Champeta
36in by 48 in
Stain on layered baltic birch wood
 
In continuation of the divine series, I wanted to express the opposite of the feminine—the male divine. A piece that represents my Colombian roots, and the afro-influence on my culture.

An Afro-Indigenous being in touch with nature, surroundings, emotions, forms of commutation and one who is a guiding beacon for a moral way to treat themselves, and others. This piece is honoring the afro-influence on the people of Colombia.

Champeta is a musical genre and dance that originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia in the 1980’s. Based on Chalupa and Afro-Cuban percussive music—it began as a dance movement within the afro-Colombian people.
Champeta culture became better-known in Colombia due to the development of a set of complex dances set to the rhythms of salsa and jíbaro and later reggae and came to be after people found the music of Afro-beat pioneers.

Like Yin and Yang, we need both parts of ourselves to better understand the world around us. The male and the female. I’ll always be an advocate for self-work, healthy and constructive communication, and grounded reactions to adversity. Thats what this piece means to me.