PEDRO SENA
Drawing
My work attempts to represent my psychological desire of achieving wholeness. In order to fight my nihilistic tendencies, since I grew up in an immense mixture of ideologies (Communism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Afro Cuban Santeria, and Capitalism), which made it difficult for me follow any set of beliefs; I decided to explore through my art practice my search for meaning.
I incorporate and reenact in my drawings ancient and modern symbols that are transcultural, such as the circle and the mandala; embedding in them abstract, carefully rendered pieces of myself. I create large scale drawings, generally charcoal on white paper.
By merging abstract sections of the human body with complex, detailed circular shapes, my work explores the idea of a nonlinear narrative, each work can be by itself or as part as a whole, but they don't have a linear order, since I believe the path to wholeness does not seem to have a clear beginning, and certainly not at a clear ending. Similar also to Catholic relics, in which the physical remains of the saints are venerated inside golden, decorated mandala shapes; my work explores the relationship and importance of the self (skin, muscle and bone), and the universe.
Exploring the idea of the search for wholeness through personal and symbolic drawings is relevant to me, not only because I am an artist, who finds meaning in my artistic expression, but also because it is through art that human beings are more susceptible and receptive to philosophical and psychological concepts.
Pieces of the Self, 2021
Charcoal on Paper
50" x 50"