RASUA
My process involves researching and chemically treating organic matter and bodily waste, transforming them into usable materials such as pigments, inks, varnishes, and handmade paper, which I then employ to create artworks. The resulting pieces are durable and functional, often combining these organic materials with others such as gold, silver, and resin. Each material carries a physical presence and a profound symbolic charge, embodying the uniqueness of the human body, the cultural imaginaries it generates, and the social context in which the work is created.
My practice is defined by three fundamental actions: transforming, beautifying, and serving. By working with materials considered taboo—excrement, semen, blood, and tears—I challenge conventional notions of waste, repulsion, and beauty. Through processes of recycling and material reinterpretation, I create works that are both utilitarian and symbolic. My approach is informed by anthropological and cultural perspectives, with particular attention to identity and memory within the social contexts I have inhabited, primarily Cuba and now the United States.
My mission is to use art as a tool to encourage viewers to expand their awareness and to reveal how what is commonly discarded or rejected can be elevated into objects of value and resonance. Through this transformation, I seek to offer new perspectives on our relationships with ourselves and with others, fostering greater understanding and empathy. My projects aim to expand the boundaries of perception, proposing that what is often considered unacceptable or unattractive can become a profound means of connection, self-discovery, and collective reflection.
In every creation, I embrace the act of beautification, honoring beauty in its most essential and transformative form.
My working process is rigorous and carefully controlled. I employ gloves, masks, ventilation systems, and laboratory-approved procedures to prevent contamination. My practice has been reviewed and approved by Christopher Aston, Director of the Biological Safety Program at Columbia University in New York.