Expográfica Línea Disidente at the Sala Nacional de Exposiciones Salarrué in San Salvador, El Salvador
I am delighted to announce that my artwork, Colgando Entre Hilos y Palabras (Hanging Between Threads and Words) 2024, is part of the exhibition Línea Disidente in El Salvador. Exhibition organized by i:Taller
Article by Diario El Salvador, "La reinvención del dibujo, en la Sala Salarrué"
Colgando Entre Hilos y Palabras, 2024
by Nadia Martínez
Fabric, paper, graphite, thread, frayed sweater, and gauze.
78 3/4 x 58 inches (2.00 x 1.50 meters)
"Suspended Between Threads and Words" addresses the universal themes of grief, emotional numbness, and healing from an intimate and reflective perspective. Presented as a personal letter, I invite the viewer to join me in a process of letting go and untangling memories and emotions while redefining the meaning and purpose of my experience. The thread, a central element in this work, acts as a unifying symbol. It functions as a line of connection that intertwines the pieces, just like the illegible writing in the composition. This resource underscores the complexity of navigating grief and finding healing.
Some of the selected materials have a deeply symbolic character. I use impulsive purchases as a representation of emotional distractions that offer temporary relief from sadness and pain. A notable example is the thread recovered from a compulsively acquired sweater, which was undone and reused. This gesture of transforming the discarded into something new embodies acceptance and the creative potential that arises from letting go.
The loose threads and letters in the work reflect my awareness of my emotional patterns and my process of detachment as I traverse the path to healing. In this narrative, immediate gratification is contrasted with delayed gratification, suggesting that patience and effort lead to deeper and more lasting healing.
The technique employed in this work combines elements of sewing, layering, and writing. I use threads of different textures and colors to create a visually tactile composition. Machine stitching, in some places, reinforces the connections; in others, it is an interrupted process, with short stitches that begin and end without knots, emphasizing the fragility and ephemerality of instant satisfaction to express my emotions tangibly.
The panels are letters and texts written by hand on fabric. These written elements, although illegible, add a dimension of intimacy and personalization, inviting the viewer to interpret and connect with the narrative individually. The combination of these techniques not only enriches the work visually but also reinforces the central theme of healing through creation and transformation. Each stitch and fragment of text contribute to the construction of a complex and multifaceted narrative about grief and recovery. This piece invites us not only to observe but also to reflect on our own cycles of grief, distraction, and healing and the possibility of finding beauty and meaning in what remains after loss.
