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The indigenous, Muiscas, treated water delicately. According to the Dorado legend, the heir to the Muisca throne was undressed and covered in golden pollen. They were guided to the center of the lagoon of Guatavita (also in Cundinamarca) where they would sprout the gold as a way to honor their gods. Graquandra breaks down this legend as if water were one of the gods.

While water dances in-between solid, liquid and gas, humans fight for her proprietorship and struggle to satisfy our basic human needs. Water is submerged in our existence touching several biological, ecological, political and cultural topics. Consequently, Graquandra sees artistic expression in regards to water as a lubricant to dialogue her importance and mere existence. Through aquatic patterns made with cyanotype, ceramics and poetry workshops, Graquandra invites you to give opinions about water and questions its position in our day to day.

cyanotype on canvas, water pattern explorations

Water is part of our quotidian lifecycle and the most abundant component on our terrestrial surface. It is vital for the human and simultaneously so mistreated. This vital element, cycles and connects all life which inhabits the planet. Its molecular substance is made up of one oxygen atom and two of hydrogen. Therefore, she can find herself in different states and elements distributed throughout the planet. Nevertheless, currently the availability shortage of drinking water, thanks to human intervention, is the cause of several socio-political tensions. Water conducts electricity and heat through her waves, travels between poles blessing a plethora of ecosystems and is part of several sacred indigenous rituals.

Without water there would be no life. Colombia is the mother to plants such as Frailejon, which function as water purifying factories. They live in moors, like Chingaza in Cundinamarca, and collect the humidity surrounding them with the output of nurturing rivers and lagoons. From there, these water channels complement food production, cleaning routines and other quotidian duties. Contemporary humans are ignorant to the process that water must take in order to fruit our excessive consumption.