Artist Edition: "Ephemeral Memorials" by Rodrigo Lara Zendejas

This Artist Edition is drawn from Lara’s Ephemeral Memorials, a series of assemblages inspired by childhood memories of cemeteries in the artist’s hometown. In these works, Lara utilizes unconventional materials often found in Mexican cemeteries, from aluminum cans to plastic plants. Combining not only various materials but also artistic references, Lara’s ceramic sculptures are an amalgamation of religious figurines, personal mementos and popular culture. The artist meditates on the ephemerality of these personal memorials that become stand-in portraits of the deceased. Due to the pandemic, Lara was unable to access his studio to complete the original Ephemeral Memorials concept. Instead, he decided to create drawings of the sculptures, finding inventive solutions to complete his vision. Lara substitutes clay with paper to create the form and then incorporates various materials, such as ceramic tiles.  Juxtaposing the fragileness of a drawing with the endurance of a sculpture, Lara reflects on both the permanent and transient nature of the memorial, as well as those being memorialized.