Sunrise on the Yaquimo River (Amanecer en el Río Yáquimo), 2023
oil on canvas
51 x 51 in
129.5 x 129.5 cm
ALM025
In the Cuban countryside where Almanza grew up, the River was a central point of all things. A place where both healing and death took form. A connection point between...
In the Cuban countryside where Almanza grew up, the River was a central point of all things. A place where both healing and death took form. A connection point between the spiritual and human realm. In the River, you could experience the full circle of life.
In this piece, the Shapeshifter stands waist deep in the water, lighting a candle to connect with the ancestors. The butterflies behind him, one a dark blue and one a bright orange, symbolize the night and day. The angel falling from the sky above him is flanked by a large stag who is howling. In front of the Shapeshifter’s face a shadowy figure sits, speaking to him in soft tones.
Day and night, life and death, dirt and water. The River welcomes all shapes and forms, and makes space for two worlds to become one.