It’s Not That Simple.

It’s Not That Simple. is an interdisciplinary approach to making which seeks to present the interconnectedness and complexity of two systems of oppression that are often referred to in Elio Garcia’s work: the Prison Industrial Complex and the War on Drugs. This body of work’s approach involves video, sculptural painting, and written work.

The history of incarceration in America is no secret, the United States penal system imprisons more people for longer sentences in harsh conditions, than any other country. This reality disproportionately falls on black and brown bodies, often as a result of petty drug offenses or being at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Incarceration affects not only the individual, but their families and their communities. The complexity of these systems are overwhelming, but Elio aims to distill these experiences through the lens of his life in the Southside of Milwaukee, into a body of work that reflects the multifacetedness of these issues.

It's Not That Simple. (Subtitle Version)

2021