Sudamérica Viva - Art Print

South America, that land, imposing, powerful. South America stands tall, begins its path, with what we call "South" on high, because our top is there, in what we knew as below, but which, nevertheless, is our north, our route to follow. South America, that living land, which speaks to us from its bowels, cries out in pain, looking towards a better future. South America, that land that lives, breathes, germinates, sprouts. South America expanding, creating, growing, emanating; love and life in expansion is perceived from there inside.

• Size : 50x75cm
• Author : María José Carmona
• Printing : Coldpress 310gsm paper. Smooth, specialized in art reproduction.
• Shipments : Worldwide. Rolled in a rigid Mappin box.

Read about the construction process here:

I started with the sole premise of making a map “upside down”, since it made sense to turn what we have always looked at from a purely conventional way. I remember with a friend at school that she brought a map of South America upside down, and she was talking about exactly this. So together with her we photocopied this paper and began to paper different parts of the school and the city. More than 15 years have passed since then and things haven't changed that much. It seems that it is very difficult for us to modify things that are internalized in an almost unconscious way and we continue to feel that the map is “upside down”. That was my first challenge, South America Inverted, and I jumped in with no other concept in mind. It was clear to me what technique I would use in the first layers, black ink, cutouts and a roller. I wanted it to emerge from the process.

After a few weeks without being able to finish the project, I went back to see what I considered the best version of the 4 initial projects and in this one, I began to see seeds and, in a very natural way, sprouts. Little by little, I began to discover on this map of spots, life, fertile land that welcomes these new lives, seeds taking root, following hydrographic routes, and with them, the first shoots, the first leaves. I continued in that direction, now with a pencil, revealing these new forms of life. South America is breathing, beating with love; wise land that cries out for protection; South America is alive.

- Maria Jose Carmona.