Monica Curiel Art
Herencia
This collection consists of works made through my signature process of layering plaster on a wooden panel, mimicking the techniques I picked up while working alongside my father during el trabajo, at work. The pieces are a reflection of my inheritance — herencia in Spanish. I view my herencia as two-fold: it lies in the Mexican culture and traditions that were passed down to me through my parents, but is also a kind of embodied knowledge that comes from the skills and work ethic they taught me.
These works are my most sculptural to date. I challenged myself to use plaster in a way that would evoke more delicate materials like cloth or paper. As I was working, I began seeing traces of my childhood memories in the billowing forms: hanging clothes to dry in the back of my grandmother’s house after bathing in the river, the dresses I sewed for my dolls, the cobija (blanket) that brought me so much comfort. These images are reflected in the titles of the works.
Herencia is not just about looking to the past, for me it’s also been about looking forward. At 19 I was diagnosed with cancer and told I would be unable to conceive. This prospect jarred me and forced me to reconsider how I view my lineage. Then I realized it was pretty simple: my works are my lineage and what I want to pass down through my collectors. If care is shown to them they can be passed down long after I am gone.
