Qualia from Away

In the philosophy of mind, qualia refer to the way we experience life—the subjective and conscious sensations that shape our perception of the world. The way cold feels on my skin, the emotional weight each color carries, the experience of pain.

The first time I connected the concept of qualia to the experiences of migration was while listening to an interview with artist Sara Hendren. She suggested that the world is designed for "normality," and yet everybody is a mystery in constant adaptation. Her invitation was to look through the lens of qualia to recognize an intimate, profound, and sensory dimension—one that can serve as a bridge between our diverse experiences.

From this perspective, the experience of being alive transcends the tangible and unfolds in the extraordinary that surrounds us. Our identity takes shape in the conscious perception of small details that accumulate.

For some people, time is measured in travels, in the distance that separates here from there, in the next snowstorm. We move in so many ways, carrying our pockets full of emotions. We are all here traveling in one way or the other. Moving between the feelings of being the odd one out, and suddenly, in solitude, belonging to a ray of light or the sound of the frozen trees.

This project arises from intimate questions, from solitude longing for community. Migrating to Maine is an intense experience—one that both offers and demands a deep connection with the land, shifting with the seasons, discovering, traveling, and exploring.

Through this work, I share the generosity of encounters with each of these women and invite those who wish to approach, without haste, as I have. This is a first step in building an authentic archive that represents the Hispanic community in Maine—a living archive woven with journeys, and experiences.