ARTIST STATEMENT
Working with materials that have transformative properties, such as clay, metal and textiles, I create sculptural works that are visual abstractions of myself as a woman; that explore issues of identity, memory, and the impermanence of self. Many times taking the shape of a half-sphere, these forms represent my ability to hold, support, and contain those things that I value most while remaining open, exposed and vulnerable to change.
I am fascinated by the innate duality that exists within metal. By nature, it has a rigid composition, but when manipulated by heat, it’s state of being transforms. Once molten, it loses its structural integrity as a solid and takes on the characteristics of a liquid, becoming malleable and fluid. Clay is similarly metamorphic by the way it can be dried, rehydrated, and fired to create something entirely new. Clay’s ability to record movement and gesture upon its surface is particularly engaging to me.
As we age, we are left with vestiges of thoughts- memories of a life that no longer exists. We are in a perpetual state of transition from one state of consciousness to the next. By grafting, binding, and welding these materials together, I use the remnants to create sculptural assemblages that serve as a symbolic bridge between my selfhood of today to the liminal space of tomorrow. Each iteration is equally referential and abstract, and serve as containers for space, composition and the inherent congruency and contradictions between my past and the present.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Bethany Cordero is a contemporary artist whose interdisciplinary work delves into the intricate interplay of memory, identity, and the ephemeral nature of self. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she works with transformative materials such as clay, metal, and textiles to create sculptural works that explore the liminal space of being. Her ceramic forms bear the imprint of memory, each curve and contour telling a story of resilience and adaptation. Her metalwork reflects the dualities inherent in the human experience – strength and vulnerability, permanence and transience – inviting contemplation on the delicate balance between the tangible and the ethereal. Textiles, with their rich history of storytelling, serve as yet another avenue for her to explore the symbolic act of weaving together disparate strands into a unified narrative. At the heart of Cordero’s practice lies a profound meditation on the impermanence of self. Through her creations, she explores the transitory nature of life, inviting others to reflect on their own place in the ever-changing tapestry of existence.
© Bethany Cordero