Shamanica 1994

Editor: So, here we have Agustin Cardenas’s "Shamanica" from 1994, a marble sculpture. The curving forms feel both incredibly modern and ancient at the same time. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: Immediately, the title resonates with the interwoven shapes. The 'shaman' evokes ideas of connection between worlds, doesn't it? Look at how the polished marble creates this flow, a continuous loop almost like energy circulating. Do you see any recognizable symbols or forms embedded within the abstraction? Editor: I see leg-like shapes at the base and maybe something that looks like a head at the top. Are those intentional representations, or are we projecting onto the form? Curator: Perhaps both! Cardenas, though working in abstraction, often hinted at the figure. Consider the 'axis mundi,' the world axis, in many shamanic traditions. Might this sculpture be suggesting that? A point of connection? The piercing, the carving out, also resonates – consider the ritual piercing and scarification across cultures. Editor: I never would have made those connections on my own! Thinking about it as a ritual object or representation definitely changes how I see it. Curator: Precisely. The weight of marble itself also speaks, doesn’t it? Stone is enduring, carrying the memories of time, culture. Does knowing that alter your perspective on its message? Editor: Absolutely. I initially saw it as a beautiful abstract shape, but now I appreciate the depth of history and cultural significance it holds. Curator: And that is often the role of the symbol: it silently holds the past. Editor: Exactly, now I feel like I'm finally looking at the sculpture instead of just seeing it!