Someone asked me, “how does it make you feel to think about your work decomposing at the end of its life?”
I make cut-paper art that is patiently crafted by hand – every line, every corner, every curve. I translate milestones and memories for people into heirloom pieces that make these moments tangible through mesmerizing sheets of paper. I try to communicate and evoke a profound connection through the layers I create; from bringing joyful flashbacks to seeing delicate signs of navigating grief.
Perhaps I will never know how my art resonates with you and vice versa. In my work rests the quiet faith that I can impart a message or meaning in my absence through the sheets of paper that I have befriended in the process.
Knowing this, I gladly welcome the prospect of them reaching the end of their life, perishing layer upon layer. The trembling hands and the aging skin will inevitably follow, even after all the beauty and all the interpretations. My work gives me the courage to accept impermanence as it leaves behind a footprint of reflections long after the art (and the artist) fades away.
y. pulongbarit-cuevo 