nd discovery of the year 2024
Victoria Ruiz united kingdom
title
Para Tú Altar: Las Fuerzas Divinas de la Naturaleza (For Your Altar: The Divine Forces of Nature)
There exists a continual process of reinterpretation and reconstruction of ancient beliefs and rituals, where symbols and signs perpetually navigate the realms of both individual and collective consciousness. By capturing different entities with my interpretation of ceremonial religious garments, each image offers a portal that enters into communication with the gods channeling the spirits of the ancestors. Para Tú Altar: Las Fuerzas Divinas de la Naturaleza is an affirmation of the divine power that transcends through the way of the Saints. Through my spiritual beliefs and relationship with the natural world, I am offering an alternative perspective that prioritizes, respects, and honors an interconnectedness with the sacred elements of Nature. In this sense, Afro-diasporic religious practices reveal themselves as agents of socio-cultural change, as they are sensitive to emerging issues, including the
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entry description
The Afro-diasporic religions of the Americas, including Santería-Ifá, Candomblé, Umbanda, and Espiritismo, among others, have historically served as sites of cultural resistance and adaptation, blending African spiritual traditions with indigenous and colonial influences. Within these religious frameworks, there is a complex relationship with the natural world, viewing it as sacred and imbued with spiritual significance. This series is inspired by Celia Cruz’s album “Homenaje a Los Santos,” one of her earliest albums that paved the way for ceremonial “Santero” music. The title “Para Tú Altar” references a song in the album about the different types of flowers used to pay tribute to and honor the divine forces of Nature. During that time, there was much silence about the religion due to the widespread prejudice. It could be said that Celia did not truly understand that what she was doing at the time was transcendent for Cuba’s musical culture and the religion itself. Despite their cultural and ecological contributions, Afro-diasporic religions often face resistance and marginalization from dominant cultures.There exists a continual process of reinterpretation and reconstruction of ancient beliefs and rituals, where symbols and signs perpetually navigate the realms of both individual and collective consciousness. By capturing different entities with my interpretation of ceremonial religious garments, each image offers a portal that enters into communication with the gods channeling the spirits of the ancestors. Para Tú Altar: Las Fuerzas Divinas de la Naturaleza is an affirmation of the divine power that transcends through the way of the Saints. Through my spiritual beliefs and relationship with the natural world, I am offering an alternative perspective that prioritizes, respects, and honors an interconnectedness with the sacred elements of Nature. In this sense, Afro-diasporic religious practices reveal themselves as agents of socio-cultural change, as they are sensitive to emerging issues, including the
about the photographer
Victoria Ruiz is a Venezuelan multidisciplinary artist that works across an array of mediums that aid her in challenging and questioning the status quo. Her creative journey was sparked through her strong sense and belief in activism and interest in the carnivalesque. Through her work, she is able to tell a story by engulfing you in a magnetic realm that revisits parts of her childhood, delves into her very own heritage and culture, gives a voice to the voiceless, and above all else constantly questions the powers that be.back to gallery
