Argentine visual artist Mariel Arias, known for her paintings, drawings and sculptures, is immersed in a new project that explores the violence inherent in poaching.
Her upcoming installation seeks to provoke deep reflection on the destructive impact of this practice on our society.
“I am currently working on an installation that will be composed of sculptures of heads and fists, and drawings whose subject matter is poaching and the violent impact it leaves its mark on our society,” Arias explains.
Field research has been crucial to the development of this project. Arias has interacted with shooting practitioners in specialized clubs and has closely observed the dynamics of these activities.
As for the choice of elements for the installation, Arias explains that “between the action arising in the frontal lobe of the hunter and the execution of the hands, the shot is produced, which causes the end of something”. The materials selected, such as clay, plaster, liquid glass and varnishes, represent key aspects of violence. “Liquid glass is connected to the concept of coldness, ice blood,” he clarifies.
Sound also plays an important role in the installation. Arias compares the sound of his brushstrokes and strokes to the noises associated with hunting. “Every time I make an incision, a sound originates in the support on which I am working. I make an analogy with the hunter who creates something that is associated with pain and terror,” he explains.
The experience that Arias hopes the viewer will live is a deep shock. “That they are moved, that they feel a sting provoked by observing and listening to the artistic proposal. I hope they connect with the possibility of reducing the escalation of violence at all levels,” he says.
The net with suspenders and shells in the installation symbolizes a trap or marked territory, reflecting the influence of the system on people. “I question myself as a member of society: what happens in the head of the hunter? What if they reflect but are still forced by the system?” he asks.
Arias believes his project can encourage a broader discussion about violence in the current context. “By observing the installation, it will provoke an internal review about individual positioning about the violence that is experienced” she says. The artist seeks for her work to serve as a mirror to reflect on the impact of our actions on global violence.
With this proposal, Mariel Arias invites to a deep reflection on violence and poaching, challenging the viewer to confront and question the reality that surrounds us.
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