For more than twenty years I have been artfully weaving my training as a designer with my inner most passion for theatre and puppetry.

My projects have consistently been the result of an inner most yearning to create and expand my talents throughout diverse artistic disciplines, always reflecting on the poetic nature of the day to day; looking for greatness in the inconspicuous and the overlooked intricacies of my personal story as a pilgrim, mestiza and migrant.

astridmendress@gmail.com

  • If these images could speak to each other, they would probably create a scene made of forests and ice. They would connect to one another to dive into the depths of the Pacific Ocean in search of a ship exquisitely destroyed by a dance of waves and salt. Surely, they would bring it to these pages so I could turn it into my home, my workshop, or a refuge for my dreams.

    The image of this ship would hold all the memories I need to embark on a long journey to the South of the (my) World. It would have apples, moss, and a soundscape of rain on the roof. Standing on the deck of rotting wood, I would carry a mechanical contraption powered by a dandelion that would allow me to float now and then, until the last seed had taken flight.

    Amidst glimmers and the saturation of greens, these images have accompanied me forever. They overlap, merge, and build the collage of my life. I no longer have power over them; they recreate themselves over and over, feeding off my experiences. They emerge from (un)known places, interpreting sensations and states of the soul. With their delicate wings, they hover above me and gently land on my back. The tickling of their wisdom tells me the exact moment when they have deposited their strength and symbolism. Only then, and only then, are my hands ready to act.

    I am aware that once I made images to live, but today they are the ones who make me.

    Si estas imágenes hablaran entre ellas posiblemente compondrían una escena hecha de bosques y hielo. Se conectarían unas a otras para ir hacia las profundidades del océano pacífico en búsqueda de un barco exquisitamente destruido por una danza de olas y sal. De seguro lo traerían a estas páginas para que yo lo convirtiera en mi casa, mi taller o un refugio para mis sueños.

    La imagen de este barco contendría todas las memorias que necesito para irme en un largo viaje hacia el Sur del (mi) Mundo, tendría manzanas, musgo y un manto sonoro de lluvia en el tejado. Yo parada en la cubierta de madera podrida cargaría un artilugio mecánico propulsado por un diente de león que me permitiría flotar de vez en cuando, hasta que la última semilla haya levantado su vuelo.

    Entre brillos y saturación de verdes estas imágenes me han acompañado eternamente, se superponen, se fusionan y construyen el collage de mi vida. Yo ya no tengo poder sobre ellas, son ellas las que se recrean una y otra vez alimentándose de mis experiencias. Por sí mismas van surgiendo de lugares (des)conocidos interpretando sensaciones y estados del alma. Con sus delicadas alas me sobrevuelan y se posan levemente sobre mi espalda, el cosquilleo de su sabiduría me anuncia el preciso momento en que han depositado su fuerza y simbolismo. Ahí y solo ahí, es cuando mis manos reciben el mensaje y son capaces de actuar.

    Soy consciente de que algún día hice imágenes para vivir, pero hoy son ellas las que me hacen a mí.

fundings & recognitions

    • Creative Australia - Weaving Waters project with Colectiva Abya Yala

    • Merri-bek City Council - Flourish Grant for Blakademy public art program with Colectiva Abya Yala

  • Merri-bek City Council - Making Space grant for artistic research for the project '(un)Learning the ecological crisis'

    • Merri-bek City Council - Flourish Grant for Blakademy public art program with Colectiva Abya Yala

    • Multicultural Arts Victoria - Shelter program grant for artistic creation of short puppet film 'No one on the island'

    • Creative Victoria Grant - International tour of The Pilgrim show

    • Creative Victoria Grant - Australian tour of The Pilgrim show and The Pilgrim's Cabinet project

  • Igniting Imagination MAV Ambassador with Melbourne Festival 2016