Exhibition “NINFAS”

"NINFAS"
Fittingly, the exhibition titled “Nymphs” (“Ninfas”) was born on the shores of the gulf in Chubut, in Argentine Patagonia.
In September 2022, I was invited to participate in a waste collection and census organized by the Global Penguin Society—part of their protocol for the protection and conservation of the natural environment. It was an intense experience that stirred a wide range of emotions; I highly recommend it as an opportunity for deep self-reflection on our role within this grand, shared existence.
The day was arduous, the reward—a meal provided by “El Pedral”—was delicious, and the experience itself served as the catalyst for this creative work. Amidst mates, laughter, and resting elephant seals, I found myself in a place I never would have reached on my own: Punta Ninfas.
Ivana Barbudo, coordinator of the Provincial Museum of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, shared a story from the era of Magellan—a tale involving alcohol, sailors, illustrators, and the phenomenon of poor long-distance vision (due less to the actual distance and more to the alcohol consumed during those long exploratory voyages). That story sparked in me a sense of amusement, tenderness, curiosity, and a renewed drive to create.
Taking into account the day, the marvelous view of a sea not constantly swum in, the debris scattered across the beach, the stories, the underlying causes, the motivations, and the desire for enjoyment—I sought help to collect the fishing lines that the sea had washed ashore. My intention was to incorporate these materials into my work—my embroidery, ceramics, and writings.
My inner life and my artistic practice are rarely separate; I have always chosen to speak in the first person, drawing from my own experience. Thus, this exhibition is, once again, a glimpse into a part of who I am.
I am not a decorative artist—though I certainly wish I could be! While I admire that kind of art, my focus lies in imbuing the discourse I share with a profound aesthetic quality—in this case, the desire for awareness.
How can we take action to help conserve our territories and the life that inhabits them? What value is there in attempting to teach others about ecosystem stewardship, critical thinking, and care, when my own beaches were being overrun by waste—when my inner flora and fauna were withering from a lack of my own presence, and my reflection spoke nothing of authenticity?
True to myself, I paused the process until I gained complete clarity—a perspective that would allow me to act effectively and with coherence. It is a coherence that defines me, one I cultivate through simple, everyday acts.
I wasn’t behind; I was simply delving deep.
Here is NINFAS (NYMPHS)—a reflection of my inner work, an invitation to explore one’s own deep waters, a gateway to the realization that we are both part of the problem and part of the solution. It is an invocation to remain conscious of the constant work required of us, but, above all, a provocation—a call to awaken the desire to do that work.

Raquel