Mariana Ruvalcaba Cruz

Mariana Ruvalcaba Cruz Change constitutes an inherent and unyielding aspect of existence, fostering continual adaptation and transformation. However, attempts to avoid this fundamental force frequently result in resistance and adversity. My personal journey has been marked by a complicated relationship with change, yet a recent shift of my perspective has unveiled its indispensable significance in sculpting the course of my life. With my work I seek to share my perspective by creating a visual language that transcends conventional boundaries and challenges traditional notions of reality. I merge, distort, and manipulate the human form and other natural elements, with the aim to blur the line between the tangible and the imagined, to create a world in “the middle” and craft hybrid creatures that embody the complexities of my personal experiences. Within this body of work, I employ a series of recurring motifs, including depictions of human-tree figures, ravens, dragonflies, and hermit crabs/shells. These elements serve as thematic vehicles through which I delve into the visual representation of my experience with growth, adaptation, transformation, displacement, the vulnerability that comes with these phenomena, and home; giving the viewer the ability to look at my pieces and feel as if they were looking at the world through my eyes while also looking inwards into their own selves and their own life experiences. Utilizing clay as my medium for sculpting serves as a profound exploration of the concept of transformation. The sculptures undergo a captivating metamorphosis, navigating through a series of physical and chemical changes to ultimately manifest as the finished product. The inherent malleability of the clay serves as a symbolic reflection of the fluidity within my own mind, body, and the essence of reality itself.