Loaded
Feathers and Wings
2000
Photographs on paper, retouched with aquarella
Between 1990 and 1997, I spent several months in the Venezuelan Amazon rainforest, capturing videos and photographs while learning from the Yanomami and Yekuana communities and their beliefs.
On my last trip, just before returning to the city, Kösirewe—a highly respected shaman in the region—approached me at the foot of the small plane and handed me a wooden tobacco box. Once aboard, I opened it to find a beautiful gift: a collection of feathers traditionally worn by Yanomami men to adorn their bodies during ceremonial occasions.
Since 1997, I have been captivated by the flight of birds, studying their movements in slow motion. I became fascinated by their flying patterns and the intricate mechanics of their wings.
In 2000, I reopened the box of feathers. I began to draw, paint, and photograph them, discovering the harmonious convergence of lines that form each feather and the stunning distribution of their vivid colors.
Feathers and Wings
1999
Graphite on Fabriano
40 X 28 In.