The John David Mooney Foundation, Chicago.

La John David Mooney Foundation de Chicago es un espacio dedicado a la custodia y divulgación de la obra personal del artista John David Mooney, además del desarrollo de diferentes programas de arte como son las residencias para artistas. Situado en pleno Downtown, a pocos metros del Lago Michigan, Millenium Park o el Chicago Art Institute, mi estancia en JDM Foundation entre Septiembre y Diciembre de 2024 supuso la posibilidad de centrarme por unos meses en mi trabajo más personal en un entorno icónico y vibrante.

The John David Mooney Foundation in Chicago is a space dedicated to the custody and exposure of the personal work of the artist John David Mooney, and the development of various art programs, including artist residencies. Located in the heart of Downtown, a few meters from Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, or the Chicago Art Institute, my stay at the JDM Foundation between September and December 2024 meant the possibility to focus for a few months on my personal work in an iconic and vibrant environment.

A lo largo de casi tres meses pude sumergirme plenamente en mi universo personal para desarrollar una serie de nuevas piezas que se presentarían al culminar mi residencia en la galería de la JDM Foundation. No voy a negar que fue un reto lograr completar una exposición individual en tan poco tiempo, pero todas las horas que pasé en mi estudio de la calle Kinzie fueron un verdadero disfrute.

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For almost three months I fully immersed myself in my personal universe to develop a series of new pieces that were presented at the end of my residency at the JDM Foundation gallery. Completing a solo exhibition in such a short time was a challenge, but all the hours I spent in my studio on Kinzie Street were a real pleasure.

Arcana Natura fue el título de esta exposición individual en la que por medio de un lenguaje simbólico quise desplegar un universo estético que hablase de la relación simbiótica que establecemos con el medio, invitándonos a reflexionar acerca de la naturaleza y sus misterios. Una fábula visual que nos acercase en clave poética a esos lugares liminales donde magia, transformación y trascendencia ocurren. La muestra se compuso finalmente de cuatro nuevas esculturas y cinco dibujos a carboncillo de gran formato.

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Arcana Natura was the title of this solo exhibition in which I wanted to deploy, through a symbolic language, an aesthetic universe that speaks of the symbiotic relationship we establish with the environment, inviting us to reflect on nature and its mysteries. A visual fable that would bring us closer to those liminal places where magic, transformation, and transcendence take place. In the end, the exhibition consisted of four new sculptures and five large-format charcoal drawings.

Estoy muy agradecida a Mr. Mooney y al patronato de la John David Mooney Foundation por ofrecerme esta oportunidad de explorar mi práctica en Chicago. También al Instituto Cervantes de Chicago que me dió soporte y consejo durante el desarrollo del proyecto, y especialmente a todas las personas que me acompañaron en este viaje. Ha sido en lo personal y en lo profesional una aventura fantástica.

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I am very grateful to Mr. Mooney and the Trustees of the John David Mooney Foundation for offering me this opportunity to explore my practice in Chicago. Also to the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago who gave me support and advice during the project development, and especially to all the people who accompanied me on this journey. It has been both personally and professionally a fantastic adventure.

Fantastic Beings Workshop

Durante mi estancia de tres meses en Berlín, trasladé mi estudio a SomoS Art House, un espacio de intercambio y desarrollo de prácticas artísticas en el corazón de Neükolln. Allí participé de diferentes actividades entorno a mi trabajo como artista y tuve la oportunidad de impartir el taller Fantastic Beings Workshop.

During my stay along three months in Berlin, I moved my studio to SomoS Art House, an art center for exchange, art-presentation and production in the heart of Neükolln. There I participated in different activities focused on my practice and got the opportunity to lead the Fantastic Beings Workshop.

A lo largo de dos sesiones se llevó a cabo el taller de escultura Fantastic Beings Workshop en SomoS Art House. Una dinámica experimental en la que los participantes trabajaron en equipo para desarrollar sus proyectos, explorando su proceso creativo y en el que trabajamos tomando como base nuestros propios cuerpos para replicarlo y reinventarlo transformándolo en piezas escultóricas de base biomórfica, dando lugar a extrañas y sorprendentes composiciones.

Throughout two sessions, it took place the Fantastic Beings sculpture workshop at SomoS Art House. An experimental dynamic class where the attendants worked together to develop their own projects, exploring their creative processes and working in an anatomy-based practice. We replicated our bodies to transform the pieces into new biomorphic sculptures, giving rise to new odd and surprising compositions..

Photos by Caroline Weimmer

Be Loved

I met Ricardo O'Nascimento during the artist-in-residence programme at MAC A Coruña in 2013. We shared workspaces and had some great experiences at the museum. I absolutely admire his work, and it is always so inspiring to work with him.

Thanks to the open call for mobility grants at the MAC A Coruña Contemporary Art Museum, I had the opportunity to meet Ricardo again to work on a new collaborative piece in his Rotterdam studio. Thanks also to Niffo Gallery Rotterdam for hosting an exhibition of our work and allowing us to create this new performance.

Here some pictures of the performance day (all info about the project here). 

Photos by Lidia Vevi

 

Residencias MAC

During my residency at the MAC Contemporary Art Museum in La Coruña, I spent more than three months working inside the museum and sharing experiences with some great artists from different disciplines: Ricardo O'Nascimento, Jeremy Keenam, Montero & Lesta, and Miguel Mariño.

One of those days, I had a very special collaborator for the Olimpia & Vivian Heimlich project: my grandmother María, who came to help me stitch some fabrics and fur.

My friend Melissa Adams visited me and took these pictures of my experience. Video by Esferobite.