Alexa Perez’s ‘The Bittersweet Playlist’ exhibition opens Nov. 23 at UHCL
Alexa Perez has lived in Pasadena, Texas her whole life. Until college, she didn’t consider herself an artist. Now, she’s opening her first solo exhibition at UHCL.
The exhibition, titled “The Bittersweet Playlist,” features photography inspired by music that shaped a tumultuous period of Perez’s life. For Perez, who admits to having had difficulty envisioning life after high school, this exhibition is beyond what she ever imagined.
“Honestly I didn’t think I would make it past high school,” Perez said. “I didn’t even apply to many colleges because I just didn’t see a future. I didn’t know where I was going after graduation so I came here.”
During her senior year, Perez went beyond just dabbling in art and photography.
“In my senior year of high school I decided to pick up a camera, and I wanted to capture all of the memories of senior year,” Perez said. “From there, it escalated to wanting to be a freelance photographer. I wanted to capture memories for all of these people; I was still in love with the candid moments.”
Perez’s newfound passion did not make choosing her major easy.
“I really didn’t start doing art until college,” Perez said. “I used to dabble in it, but I was always doing something else. I finally decided to accept that I had artistic ability and that I was creative and I decided to go for my degree in graphic design.”
After graduating high school, she reflected on the experiences that would inspire the exhibition.
“In high school I had an abusive relationship with someone, and that is where the inspiration for the exhibition comes from,” Perez said. “It’s called ‘The Bittersweet Playlist’ because each piece is named after a song from pop culture and it describes how you would feel after a breakup. Each piece is almost like a memory to me with that song.”
Perez said selecting the songs and their corresponding pieces was an intense process.
“I would listen to a song, and think this is exactly how I felt when this and this and this happened. I would try to get that song implemented into my head as I was taking these pictures, and if I felt like the picture fit the song and fit how I was feeling, then I put it together.”
Perez originally conceptualized the exhibition in 2019, proposing it online during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“I have been working on this exhibition since 2019,” Perez said. “I first introduced [Lecturer Angela Larson] to the first draft of the exhibition in 2020 during covid. I had to present online, and I started crying mid-presentation and I was like ‘oh no I can’t do this.’ She said she thought this is a very good process for me and that she would love to see this.”
Visitors to the exhibit are encouraged to bring earbuds and their phones so they can listen to the songs accompanying each piece. The exhibition features music from pop artists including Billie Eilish and SZA, more low-key selections from The Walters and an instrumental from the soundtrack to the 2016 film “La La Land,” among others.
“I created the playlist and I have to listen through it and look at the image and it’s almost like meditating,” Perez said. “I listen to the song and I’d look at it and I think, ‘does this music fit this image?’ And for me as the artist I’m like ‘yes’ or I’m like ‘hmm, maybe not.’ If it doesn’t call out to me then it’s not it.”
The exhibition predominantly features traditional photography, which Perez has come to especially appreciate.
“I love digital, but I feel like there’s something special about analog photography that you can only capture this once and if you mess up, that’s it,” Perez said. “You have to take it again in a different way. You can’t waste that frame, so if you want to do another one we’re going to do a different pose, so that’s how I think about it.”
The exhibition will also feature fiber, cyanotype and printmaking pieces. These mediums align with Perez’s usage of natural elements in her work.
“I like the idea of using natural elements in my art, and I like to leave things as they are,” Perez said. “I follow the rule that everything happens for a reason, and I believe that if the sun is in a certain spot and it looks really nice I am going to get someone to get over there and I am going to take a picture. I feel like the more that I move with nature, the more life is going to feel better for me, not necessarily like life is coming at me.”
“The Bittersweet Playlist” opens Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. in the Arbor North Building at UHCL. Those interested in keeping up with Alexa can follow her on Instagram @LexasPictures or visit her website, lexaspictures.wordpress.com.
