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 more easily than others; there were some that resisted, and others that the heat relaxed. 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.