CATALINA VIEJO LOPEZ DE RODA, 2021
www.catalinaviejo.com

My work focuses on images taken from my memories, dreams, and experiences of female intimacy. I examine the transitory nature of identity and the process of erasure and regeneration of the idea of the self within our natural environment. Dealing with a persistent virus has instigated a new direction in my work, with the central theme being Self Care. A single woman lives in isolation in each of my drawings and dioramas. She inhabits wild environments and has developed a symbiotic relationship with the landscape. The female figures embody the wild woman archetype and reflect the landscape around them: arms open up like flowers, legs mirror the bends of the river, bodies twists like tree trunks. The repetition of natural elements, like leaves or waves, evokes a sense of abundant beauty and simultaneously remains on the verge of overflowing and consuming the figures.

At Residency 108, I created a large-scale diorama inspired by the site. The diorama and the attendant images and prints that emerged through the process of making aim to encourage a dialogue with nature, its importance to individual and collective well-being, and the existential value we have as human beings in connection to our environment. Most of us have had to make changes and adjust to our surroundings during the pandemic. Many of us have not had the luxury of connecting with nature to the detriment of our well-being. After a year of living in confinement, existential themes concerning our environment not only feel relevant but urgently important. It is my aim that my work made in residency will promote a deeper awareness of what we can learn from nature; its resilience, adaptability, and ultimately, its celebration of life.