Mariana Varela

ABOUT

WORK

Ripple in the Garden – Soft Times Gallery, San Francisco

2023

There are historical situations so great that they surpass us in our finitude, however, we are part of them, human beings possess an extraordinary dual capacity for creation and destruction, that has profoundly impacted nature and the world. This capacity manifests in the ability to build and innovate, enhancing life and fostering progress, while simultaneously wielding the power to destroy, leading to environmental degradation and societal harm. The balance between these opposing forces shapes our relationship with the planet and dictates the future of our global ecosystem.

For this exhibition, I created 7 characters, hybrids of human, animal, and vegetation. Each creature represents death, protection, fertility, and the tension between civilization and nature, inviting the public to create a story for them and explore speculative scenarios and alternative realities.

Delightful elements of disruption to evoke the beauty of imperfection amidst a seemingly perfect garden. The experience of this exhibit offers a glimpse of the raw, charmingly strange moments of the human experience, all while infusing the space with surprise and novelty.