Art Installation

Miami Beach Botanical Garden 

The Artisan Lounge (Downtown Miami)

Flor.Es.
An epiphyte is a plant that grows usually on another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain. A parasitic plant also grows on  another plant, but derives some or all of its sustenance from its host, and not the air and rain.  At first sight, they may seem to have the same behavior, because they are both using a host to grow on.  But in reality they are quite different, as some parasitic plants may sometimes even destroy its host, the very own thing that they need to survive, whereas the epiphyte will always keep its host alive.
The botanical phenomena of hosted living reminds me of the human condition of dependency and co-dependency, where substances and relationships become our hosts. What part of our emotions –or lack thereof– causes us to behave like epiphytes or parasites? Is it all part of the human connection and the search of a greater and perhaps unattainable happiness? Most importantly, what were we intended to be and what have we become as a result of our life experiences? 
Are the prints (huellas) that have been left behind on us the reason why we latch on to others in a co-dependent behavior? Is it an excuse? Flor.Es serves to post the question of how we see ourselves versus who we really are. Are we epiphytes in a beautiful harmony of interdependent faith, forming a deep sense of community with those around us? or are we parasites who depend on drugs and other addictive and destructive behaviors, ultimately depending on others for our self identity, 
until we suffocate our hosts?
If we were created to depend on only the love of our Creator, then why are we constantly searching for 
another host to give us eternal happiness?

Vicious Cycle
Installation with wool gloves, whiskey bottle and mixed media. 

Interactive: viewers are invited to share what they depend on and leave their words in the middle of the circle.
From the series Flor.Es.