La maestra en Artes Plásticas UIS María Isabella Arenas Hernández achieved second place in the XVII edition of the Young Art Award, a recognition given by Colsanitas and the Embassy of Spain in Colombia. Additionally, her work was awarded as the third winning project in the “En Blanco” call for proposals by the Espacio El Dorado Gallery.
Her series “Arenarias,” which consists of graphite pencil drawings and small 3D-printed sculptures, earned her this national accolade. Out of 924 entries, 25 were selected by curator Elías Doria to be showcased in an exhibition held at the Nueveochenta Gallery in Bogotá D.C.
The award’s organizing body highlighted her work, stating, “The artist delves into the intimacy of her family lineage, marked by a series of suicides surrounded by rumors and suspicions in Curití and San Gil. Throughout the series of dark drawings and sculptures, an animal presence guides the journey between two realms: the camuro—a blend of goat, ram, and lamb—occupies spaces abandoned by human presence.”
In addition to the recognition received through the Young Art Award 24, Isabella also won the “En Blanco” call for proposals, through which Espacio El Dorado Gallery sponsors the first solo exhibition of an artist. Her work “West Room: Not Compatible with Life” is the third winning project.
Felipe Lozano, a judge for the call, commented on the Maestra den Artes Plástica UIS Isabella Arenas’ project: “It is a powerful proposal that challenges conventional notions of the human and the non-human through an exploration of unborn bodies. Drawing from the clinical archive of Dr. Libardo Arenas, this work immerses us in the concept of ‘not compatible with life,’ confronting the complexity of malformations that limit existence outside the womb. The aesthetic reference to horror films adds a layer of unease and provocation, while the use of techniques such as 3D modeling and printing, alongside graphite drawing, enhances the expression of these mutations. ‘West Room’ deserves recognition for its conceptual audacity and its capacity to challenge our perceptions of humanity”.
The exhibition opening will take place this Saturday, November 9, starting at 11:00 a.m. at Espacio El Dorado Gallery in Bogotá, D.C.
