Growing up in Spain, I was surrounded by the presence of death, integrated seamlessly into daily life. The cemetery gates in my hometown bear the inscription "Aqui os esperamos" ("We wait here for you"), a constant reminder of mortality that has deeply influenced my work. My paintings draw from this cultural backdrop, blending tradition, folklore, memory, and an exploration of mortality.
My graduation project is inspired by Federico García Lorca's poem "Nana del caballo grande," a lullaby that reflects on the inevitability of death through the story of a horse. This narrative is central to my paintings, which feature powerful horse figures created with bold brushstrokes and heavy materials. The canvases are prepared with layers of gesso, marble dust, and sand, mimicking the texture of traditional Spanish architecture and grounding my work in a sense of place and history.
Each painting serves as a sculptural piece, balancing between strength and fragility, and between the horrible and the delicate. The decorative mural in my exhibition space mirrors the tilework from my childhood home, creating an environment that reflects the importance of storytelling in understanding death and grieving in Spanish culture.
Through my art, I seek to preserve and amplify the cultural narratives that have shaped me. By interpreting traditional stories and songs through visual media, I offer a new perspective on timeless themes of mortality and human experience. My work confronts the complexities of death with empathy and introspection, exploring its connections to my heritage and my personal journey.