Art Installation

“Aftermath”

Venice Architecture Biennale -2023 

ECC - "Space Time Existence" - May 20th - Nov 26th 

The installation consists of a series of Obelisk Crystals epitomizing Earth, Water & Sun. Conveying a vital message, that we must act now to create a foundation for a possible positive future. It’s a study in tangible discarded materials that we humans leave behind, questioning the viewer – What will happen next? What will be the consequences? How will the Earth regenerate? What comes out of the ashes?

These are questions Soledad illuminates through her installation, where she transforms trash into art and creates a thought-provoking expression consisting of 123 sculptures with traces of civilization searching for a way not to kill itself. A reminder of the effects of climate change on all of our creative urges, Mother Earth.

Soledad collected all the materials used in the installation during months of beach discoveries and clean ups, from blue mussels in Maine to beach cleanups in Miami, USA with the Surfrider Foundation (dedicated to protecting the worlds ocean, waves and beaches) as well as discarded materials from her own home. This is how she sees the world today; we live in a juxtaposition between beauty and waste. 

Drawing on the artist’s experience as a gemologist and vast experience in geology combined with her jeweler background, she has added recycled gold flakes, and brass nuggets, which humanity has been recycling for centuries. The Obelisk’s first depiction in ancient Egypt, representing the Sun God Ra, it’s believed its shape symbolizes a single sun ray. Some of the Crystals contain a message, a nod to how the pandemic popularized “viral quotes”, how we perceive them and their effect on us, if any.

Each Obelisk Crystal is cast in several layers, created by hand with Biodegradable eco-friendly epoxy. Natural pigments were used to tint them, Ochre from mines in France and Indigo from Santa Barbara, USA.

Photos - Celia D. Luna