Hojas 8 Sculpture

I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1950. For the last thirty-three years, I have lived on the outskirts of this vast city at about 1.8 miles above sea level. My home is surrounded by a highland Andean forest that provides a steady source of inspiration for my work. I appreciate, respect, and strive to protect my local ecosystem. As an undergraduate student at the National University in Bogotá, I majored in art and concentrated in sculpture. Upon graduating, I continued my studies in sculpture at the Ian Van Eyck Akademie in Maastricht, Holland. Some years later, after beginning to raise my family back in Colombia, I established a ceramic studio, where I still create my work and teach. While I have always admired natural landscapes, as time goes by I become increasingly focused on details, like the textures and arrangements of leaves, and the geometry of flowers, the way in which their patterns repeat, their rhythm, and their incredible diversity. Each one of my pieces is a manifestation of the manner in which I have assimilated this kind of information. In a certain way, I see my art as a contribution to environmental efforts. For me, there is nothing more beautiful than nature and no cause is more important than protecting it. I selected ceramics as my primary medium because I enjoy manipulating clay--a material I have come to know quiet well. Also, I appreciate the affinity between ceramics and the themes of my work. After all, the materials and processes of ceramics are so closely related to the natural world. Most of the pieces I create are designed for display on walls. I usually sculpt from thick planks of white clay or create forms out of thin sheets of the same material. The color of the clay is important; given the effect of light on the white surface, texture, and details may be readily appreciated. Often I will introduce some color to select pieces using died clay, engobes, or glazes. The pieces are then mounted on metal or wooden structures. Most of my work can be hung as a single unit, though I truly enjoy creating larger compositions made up of multiple pieces for clients with ample wall space. I have participated in most of the events for artistic ceramics that have taken place in Colombia. Among them, are the following: • Pabellón Especial Expoartesanías, Bogotá, diciembre de 1996. • Primer Salón Artierra, octubre de 2002. • Segundo Salón Artierra, septiembre de 2004. • Tercer Salón Artierra, marzo de 2007.