Sculptor Cristina Córdova, IDENTITY episode

Summary

The video explores the artistic journey of Cristina, a figurative sculptor, as she reflects on her creative process and influences. Rooted in Puerto Rican heritage, her work delves into anatomical structures, emotional expression, and a deep dialogue with materials. Cristina’s sculptures, often derived from personal experiences and family connections, convey powerful, poignant imagery. The video also touches on her teaching philosophy and collaborations with other artists, highlighting her mastery of clay and her ability to evoke raw, universal emotions through her art. It is a testament to the resilience and growth found within the artistic process.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cristina, a figurative sculptor, focuses on drawing out a sense of presence from the clay, using anatomical structures and symmetry as a foundation for her work.
• 😀 Her sculpting process is an exploration where she stays open to the materials, responding to them and allowing the pieces to evolve over time.
• 😀 The artist's work is rooted in her Puerto Rican heritage, combining personal history with universal themes, making her sculptures relatable to everyone.
• 😀 Cristina's sculptures are driven by the emotional states of the figures, often using tension in the hands or body to convey feelings such as joy, torment, or sadness, while maintaining a neutral facial expression.
• 😀 Puerto Rican identity plays a significant role in Cristina's work, with her return to Puerto Rico reinforcing her connection to her roots and making her feel 'invisible' in a positive way within her culture.
• 😀 Raised in an artistic household, Cristina's mother supported her art-making from a young age, which led to a lifelong passion for creating art despite initially considering a career in engineering.
• 😀 Cristina’s early exposure to religious imagery in Puerto Rico influenced her figurative practice, helping her develop an emotional connection to art that draws people into reflective spaces.
• 😀 She values using photographic references, often working with models like her daughter Ava, to study anatomy and capture the subtle details that make her sculptures more lifelike.
• 😀 After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico, Cristina developed her craft in ceramics at Alfred University and the Force Academy of Art before settling in Pennsylvania to continue her work.
• 😀 Despite the challenges faced by Puerto Rico, including political turmoil and the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, Cristina’s art has remained a source of resilience, connecting her to her identity and personal growth.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Cristina's sculptural practice?

Cristina's sculptural practice focuses on creating figures that evoke a sense of presence, exploring anatomical structures, symmetry, and emotional expression through clay. She engages in a dialogue with the material, aiming to bring out both physical and emotional aspects in her sculptures.

How does Cristina approach the process of building her sculptures?

Cristina approaches her sculptures by starting with a basic anatomical structure, slowly refining and compounding the details until the piece feels 'inhabited.' She remains open to the material, allowing it to guide the creative process, which involves a gradual buildup and exploration of form and emotion.

What cultural influences shape Cristina's work?

Cristina's work is deeply influenced by her Latin American and Caribbean heritage. Growing up in Puerto Rico, she was surrounded by dramatic religious images that informed her figurative practice. Despite living in the U.S. for many years, her Puerto Rican identity remains central to her creative exploration.

How does Cristina’s background in Puerto Rico impact her work today?

Cristina's Puerto Rican background continues to influence her work, even though she feels somewhat detached from her homeland. Her experience of Puerto Rico allows her to reflect on her identity from an external perspective, which enriches her creative process, giving her work a unique emotional depth.

What role did Cristina's mother play in her artistic development?

Cristina's mother played a crucial role in fostering her artistic development. She supported Cristina's interest in art from a young age, enrolling her in classes even as early as two and a half years old. Her mother’s appreciation for art helped shape Cristina’s lifelong connection to creativity.

What is Cristina’s perspective on the figurative practice she pursues?

Cristina views figurative sculpture as a way to explore fundamental aspects of human existence. She focuses on conveying emotions subtly through tension in the hands and neutral facial expressions, allowing internal states like joy, torment, or sadness to be felt rather than explicitly shown.

How does Cristina incorporate her daughters into her artistic process?

Cristina includes her daughters in her artistic process, using them as models for her work. Her daughter Ava, in particular, has been a subject for her sculptures, which allow Cristina to explore themes like human anatomy and emotional expression through the figures she creates.

What does Cristina believe about the role of the artist in teaching?

Cristina believes that the artist’s role as a teacher is to inspire students rather than simply instruct them. She emphasizes the importance of inspiring creativity and pushing students to reach their full potential, as seen in her positive influence on those she has taught.

What does Cristina’s medium of choice – clay – mean to her?

Cristina is deeply infatuated with clay as a medium. Her love for the material began after she graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and continues to shape her artistic practice. She finds endless possibilities in clay, using it to explore both form and emotional depth in her work.

How does the artist Jaime Suarez influence Cristina’s work?

Jaime Suarez, a key figure in Puerto Rico’s ceramic art scene, influenced Cristina’s practice significantly. As her teacher, Suarez's approach to texture and expression in art resonated with Cristina, leading her to explore similar themes in her own sculptural work.