Meet Our 2023-2024 AWC Fellow: Alfred Bordallo

Visual Communications is thrilled to introduce our 2023-2024 Armed With a Camera Cohort! Meet visual artist, Alfred Bordallo! Alfred is a CHamoru visual artist from Guåhan currently based in Los Angeles. His work focuses on recollecting and honoring the fragmented and, more importantly, repurposed facets of CHamoru identity through the analog mediums of photography and video. Bordallo’s self-taught practice began in 2018 while attending the University of Southern California, and has since grown into editorial shoots for fashion and music, live-visual (VJ) sets accompanied with lo-fi hip-hop, and to video art installations that interrogate CHamoru identity within the context of indigineity, diaspora, and imperialism.

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE FILM/MEDIA ARTS
Early on it was seeing my family photo albums at my grandma’s when I was a kid. Definitely caught the photographer gene from my maternal grandfather. I also made silly MTV Cribs style videos in middle school lol. In college, I bought a $5 film camera outside a Burger King at 3am during finals week. I had always wanted a cool camera but until that point felt like it was too inaccessible. I was also in an environment where people believed in me and showed me that the opportunities were endless, so the first step was investing in myself. Also thank you to everyone that’s supported me on this journey <3

Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO ON YOUR FREE TIME
Cooking for loved ones. Being in community with my people. Kettlebells. Playing Halo. Trying new restaurants. Enjoying a concert. 

FAVORITE FILM
City of God

FAVORITE TV SHOWS
The Sopranos, Smiling Friends, Regular Show

CURRENT WATCH
Youtube videos of Taiwanese Fish Markets chopping up big tunas. Re-reading Berserk and Vagabond btw.

MUSIC ARTIST ON REPEAT
All my friends really. Outside of that Earl Sweatshirt and Pachyman.

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION
OTAFUKU GARDENA

UNPOPULAR OPINION
Swimming pools gross me out. Ocean supremacy.

Q: WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THIS YEAR’S AWC
Our projects. Talented folks we are! Haha  >:)

WHERE TO FIND YOU
@alf.bordallo

See Alfred’s multi-channel video art installation, Digital Camouflage, which reimagines and presents the ways in which CHamoru people have resisted and existed under American imperialism. He will also be premiering his short film, Daughter of Guam, a love letter to our CHamoru matriarchs at the 40th VC Film Fest!