This Mortal Coil - Installation

ARTIST STATEMENT – SUNDARA HEART

"This Mortal Coil, 2021" began in Española, New Mexico, in 2016. The memories of discovering a new live/work space are vivid for Heart. "The new space had lofty ceilings that bathed the room in light. It felt like home, granting me the freedom not just to paint, but to construct as well."

During a recent trip to Greece before settling in Española, a chance encounter led Heart to the inaugural found object and material for her project. "One evening, while on my way to dinner, I stumbled upon palm tree bark lying by the roadside. The texture and shape of the bark instantly evoked the image of wings in my mind. The surrounding Kandilakia shrines, dotting the landscape every few miles, influenced the conceptualization process. I gathered the palm tree bark and proceeded to dinner. That night, fueled by a few glasses of wine and several sketches, 'This Mortal Coil' began to take shape."

"Upon returning to the studio, I arranged the bark on the wall to emulate wings. A cage was introduced, with suspended ropes hanging from the ceiling. Gradually, stones, sticks, and wire were interwoven along the edges of the ropes. Each stick and stone was enveloped in wire, symbolizing the release of hurtful words and abusive expressions we endure from others—emotions intrinsic to the human experience. As I adorned the rib cage-like wire with trinkets and wilted flowers, I cocooned them in fishing wire, shedding the pain associated with verbal abuse. This process proved to be profoundly cathartic," Heart reminisces.

The artwork evolved through various iterations, and I will soon share images depicting its progression. Yet, it wasn't until the unveiling at DAT Gallery that the piece was truly able to manifest in its entirety. "The timing felt right for its ultimate presentation. It encapsulated the journey of personal growth, the passage of time acting as a vital catalyst for healing."

Several artists kindled the inspiration for this creation:

Tim Noble and Sue Webster's shadow sculpture, "The Head of Isabella Blow," particularly resonated. Having encountered 'Isabella Blow' at the MCA in Denver years prior, the piece left an enduring impression. The interplay between light and shadow within 'This Mortal Coil' bore comparable significance to its physical form, if not greater. Noble and Webster's artwork, featuring a striking silhouette of the late fashion icon Isabella Blow composed of dramatically lit animal skins, left an indelible mark.

Meret Oppenheim's "Object Paris, 1936" is another source of artistic influence. Introduced to the piece during my time in art school, the palm tree material discovered in Greece evoked parallels with Oppenheim's furry teacup. The juxtaposition of disparate materials to evoke meaning remained a key consideration.

Andy Goldsworthy, an English sculptor renowned for his transient landscape installations composed of natural elements like sticks and stones, further contributed to the conceptualization. While his works resonate on a grander scale, his aesthetics and utilization of nature as an artistic medium held a profound allure for me.

Equally influential were shrines and sacred spaces created for worship and offerings to higher powers. Drawing from familial rituals, prayer, and faith, as well as experiences in locations like the Mediterranean, India, Mexico, and Central and South America, I sought to encapsulate the significance of collected objects and experiences. The burden they bear and the act of relinquishing them to a greater cosmic energy became central motifs in this work.