Artist statement:
Through textile processes such as weaving, knitting, embroidery and sewing, my work materially translates my philosophy of making as an act of resistance.This approach is deeply rooted in my Chilean identity and my relationship to political textile arts.
I am an advocate of the “Escuela del Sur” (School of the South), created by Uruguayan artist Joaquin Torres Garcia, in which he proposes we flip the map of South America and assert our own cultural identity and orientation towards the southern pole in the art world. The recent loss of my Chilean legal status has oriented my research towards theories of cultural identity, citizenship, decolonization, racial capitalism and imperialism. This has also evolved on a more personal level as I explore the meaning of belonging as a concept defined by relationships.
I consider my work to be a tool, it is not only about the outcome and the message it carries, but about what happens around the making. I use repetitive and labour intensive techniques to create a physical and mental space for reflection. Thus every stitch is charged with the energy of the mechanical movements and the meditation that comes with them. Through this process I create installations that invite viewers to question with me.
