Selected Works of Alexandra Lopez Iglesias

It is a testament to courage, strength and vulnerability to acknowledge and face the physical and mental space that the aftermath of trauma takes up in one’s body. To venture into this space introspectively, and then to gracefully and poetically alchemize trauma through a sensuous materiality which is both relatable and recognizable in its skin-like qualities, bearing witness not only to extreme difficulties, but more importantly and impactfully, to women’s resilience and fortitude, is something quite extraordinary. The skin-like sculptures and installations of Doris Salcedo, Heidi Bucher, and Eva Hesse do exactly this. These particular works, with their haptic characteristics, illustrate the processing and confrontation with grief, difficulty and desperation, documenting the transposition of evident or hidden trauma. The tactility of the work, both enchanting and grotesque, the strength in its fragility, and the way in which the objects are exposed or concealed, convey a time past, traces of personal history, and those or that which is no longer around. They evoke sorrow and absence as well as exhibit beauty and reverence. And most importantly, they create an opportunity for the spectator to stand still in self-recognition...