Beatriz Jaramillo

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA, USA

Artist statement

B.H.JARAMILLO Studio Although I am a city dweller, I yearn for the unspoiled natural landscape of my childhood, the green forests, and the small lively creeks where the water was pristine. These places provided me with a timeless sense of inner peace and balance. In the present day, the land has been modified by urban development projects and the “improvements” of modern infrastructure. Hence the clear creeks were lost and much of the vegetation was destroyed. Today, I long for a close connection with a natural world that no longer exists. In our highly industrialized society and as a result of human activities, we frequently see how massive sections of the earth have been modified. Fast population growth demands city expansions, efficient food production, and consumer goods. Consequently, increasingly larger portions of land are dedicated to urban development. The topsoil is peeled off and the earth is cut open to accommodate freeways and other civil infrastructures. The natural world is not appreciated as a sacred entity, but is handled as a commodity to be exploited; an attitude that reveals the underlying values of our culture. Intensive farm production adds another layer to environmental concerns. In order to plant food or raise livestock, forests are being devastated. As the industrial production of food satisfies the demand, it also destroys living habitats and disrupts natural processes that took thousands and thousands of years to be established. In addition, the...

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