FIBER ARTS and MIXED MEDIA

POR AMOR A LAS TELAS Y TRAPOS OR HOW I STARTED...

My first ever visit to a fabric bazaar left quite an impression...I wandered off and got lost within a sea of materials. It was overwhelming for me as a kid, but beautiful and I didn't mind, I wanted to stay there forever. After this experience, I collected fabric scraps from the floor around my grandmother's sewing machine and spent days admiring their patterns and textures. 

On my 10th birthday, my parents gave me my first camera, a purple Vivitar. My father's scientific curiosity for the origin of memory and the sudden passing of one of my best friends at that age, instilled in me an obsession with time. I wanted to make it stand still, as if that would keep everyone safe. So I photographed all our gatherings. I was always curious about the shape of things too, so I photographed strange clouds formations, rocks, furniture and interesting objects. Years later, in college, I abandoned the idea of becoming an archaeologist or a journalist and decided to channel my love for contemporary design, photography, textiles, ancient symbols and folk arts, through art.

Texture and repetition are important elements in all of my pieces. Any material that bends like fabric inspires me to create. I repurpose discarded ones for obvious environmental reasons and use vinyl often (since it's hard to find a recycling center for it). Its sheen adds a "Kitsch" look that creates a fun, visual contrast when paired with cotton fabrics. I also use clear vinyl to create pockets, protective barriers or "nichos", probably alluding to the childish obsession I had of keeping memories intact and protected. I explore themes that were instilled by the women from my mother's side, with interesting mixed beliefs and magical thinking. But when working with fibers/mixed media, I also include themes that affect me personally, like culture clash, language mix, identity, nostalgia, motherhood and others.

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Selected fiber artworks and mixed media: