Maria Berrio (Colombia)

La Cena. Courtesy of the Artist & Praxis International. Mixed Media: 48 in x 58 in, 121.92 cm x 147.32 cm, 2012.

My works are works of love, of fantasy, and magical realism. “La Cena” is a careful assemblage of paint, watercolor, and torn papers from various parts of the globe, in an attempt to reflect the piecemeal way we construct snippets of memories when we paint, to form a visual representation of the ethereal mental quilts we sew together when we remember a symbolic moment. “La Cena” reflects my memories of a South American dinner: a Sunday feast with excessive amounts of food. The sound of loud voices mixed with background music. The indescribable smell of home. The feeling of sharing of magic and love, symbolized by yellow butterflies flying around the table. The rawness of foods grown in our own farms, excess of fruits and fish and a table invaded with infinite vivid colors. That was a dinner for me, a Sunday ritual in which we all came together to seize the day, to celebrate love, life, food and family.

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