Shrinked
(2021)
Bent Wood and disassembled leaf
I collected this leaf and separated it from its stem by my insistent way of observing and studying it. As I left it in my studio I could see how the leaves began to curl up. The twisting movement of the leaf and its organic gesture was so appealing to me as I associate this with a term we use in Colombia when we feel homesick: Corazon Arrugado (Shrinking Heart). Inspired by this I heat bent these wooden veneers, trying to imitate the movement of the dry leaves. During this dialogue with the material some of them bent easier than others, there were some that resisted and others that the heat relaxed them. During this process I thought about how this gesture was related to the moment I was living. Coming to Chicago forced me to change my shape, it's molding me as I molded the woods. There were days when I resisted this change and others when it was easier. However, the resulting shapes of the wood suggest movement and fluidity.