Reflection

Colombia, the country I live in, has coasts on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the Caribbean Sea. We have the privilege to enjoy a diversity of amazing species and habitats, in addition to an immense responsibility to preserve and protect this wildlife, together with the ecosystems it thrives in. My piece is an embroidery manifesting endangered marine life in the Caribbean Sea, surrounding Colombia. The species portrayed are disappearing due to rising temperatures of the water and overfishing, causing deterioration in the marine ecosystem. I wanted to address my piece towards endangered species because I was surprised by the extreme amount of animals at risk of disappearing forever, shown in the “Red Book of Marine Fishes of Colombia”. With my work, I want to preserve these valuable species and raise awareness in my community on the importance of reflecting and taking action. My decision to work in embroidery came as the extensive tradition in which it has been used to register culture and experience throughout history. The conceptual inspiration for my work emerged when I visited the National Museum, and I saw a huge piece, sewn and embroidered by women from Mampuján, to tell their story; the piece is called “Ma jende mi prieto”. In terms of technique, I was inspired by Maria Arseniuk and Erin M. Riley, who work with delicacy but are able to tell whatever story they want.