The Colombian artist Delcy Morelos reflects on her roots in Tierralta, a place she remembers as “a paradise full of butterflies and unpaved streets.” Growing up in the late 1960s and early ’70s, she learned to live in harmony with the land in her grandmother’s garden. However, the progression of paramilitary and guerrilla conflicts changed this serene environment into a landscape fraught with fear and turmoil.
Morelos initially channeled these experiences into two-dimensional acrylic compositions. But, as featured in a recent Art21 segment, she soon embraced a more tactile medium. She now uses soil, straw, and grass to create expansive installations. This film captures her crafting a monumental earthwork at Seville’s Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo, a site with rich historical significance as it once sheltered Christopher Columbus’ remains.
A Living, Breathing Installation
Throughout the film, Morelos is seen meticulously layering straw-infused soil onto structures, which later bloom with native produce from both sides of the Atlantic. Her installation contrasts sharply with the colonial history of the site, suggesting a return to natural cycles and ways of being. Visitors encounter the earthy smells of cinnamon, cloves, and rich soil, drawn in by the towering organic forms that emerge within the vaulted halls of the former monastery.
Explore how a cloud-like structure embraces natural forms similar to Morelos’ installations in Dongguan.
Morelos’ work emphasizes a profound connection to the divine beneath our feet. “Many people believe they are in a bubble, and that is why they can do things that harm nature, harm others, and also harm themselves,” she states, highlighting her deep care and respect for the natural world.
Discover how Witoca Lab fuses ecological practices with architecture in the Amazon, resonating with Morelos’ earth-centered art.
Immersive and Reflective Experience
This segment is a part of Art21’s Human Nature episode, which explores the intricate ties between humanity and the earth. The full episode is available on its website, and interested viewers can find additional films on YouTube.
Sources & Links
Source: thisiscolossal.com