SELF-UTOPIA | 2019

The skin acts as a protective barrier that separates our inner world from the outside, defining our individuality. This protective layer also hosts millions of microorganisms that play a crucial role in sustaining life and supporting our overall health. However, the simple act of skin touching skin bridges this barrier of individuality, connecting us to another person in profound, invisible ways. In these moments, microorganisms are shared, blurring the lines between "I" and "you."

In Self-utopia, three self-portraits were created: one from the bacteria of my own skin (I), another from the bacteria of a known person (You), and the third from the mingling of both our bacteria (Us, We). This artwork materializes the complex relationship between self and others, illustrating how, while we can see ourselves as individuals, we are also fundamentally shaped by our relationships. The accompanying reflection in the mirror prompts viewers to consider their own individuality and the extent to which "I can be you, and you can be me."

This artwork is accompanied by a poem written by myself:

I, amid more than seven billion human organisms, remain me

I carry unique characteristics that set me apart from you

but I carry in my DNA information about you

but I live and survive because I carry you

Maybe I'm not just me anymore

Maybe you're not just you anymore

Maybe you and I are actually us

Exhibitions

2024 · Nós

Diáspora Galeria, São Paulo, Brazil

2021 · Invisibilia