A Secret Shines Metal

My father was a lawyer who specialised in mining law in Argentina. He loved rocks—I remember there were many intriguing ones, some shiny, scattered throughout the house. And so do I—a rock is where we both meet—although we had different perspectives.

"A Secret Shines Metal" is a project that investigates the intricate relationship between mining and nature, while also contemplating my journey to understand my father. Walking the lands of South West Cornwall, I explore its geological layers and rich mining history of tin and copper, which dates back to the Bronze Age and reached its peak in the 18th century. This project is driven by my desire to reconnect with my father after his passing, reflecting on mining’s dependence on the natural landscape while traversing the intersections of memory, cultural heritage, and environmental change shaped by mining activities.

Cornwall and the regions of Northwest and Cuyo in Argentina differ greatly due to their biome characteristics. Yet, both are rich in minerals, with copper being one of the primary metals extracted in each.

I confront a desolate, vast landscape that mirrors my inner state. As my memory feels blurred and fragmented, my practice evolves through serendipitous encounters and the symbols I uncover along the way. In pondering the concept of the collective unconscious, I seek to remember what has been lost. As Carl Gustav Jung wrote in The Structure of the Psyche (1960), CW 8, par. 342, “The collective unconscious contains the whole spiritual heritage of mankind’s evolution, born anew in the brain structure of every individual.” By tapping into this shared unconscious, I explore how personal memory connects with collective history.

By delving into my father's archive, including his trips to Salta and San Juan in the 1990s, I aim to develop a pluralistic practice that spans both Cornwall and Argentina. The resulting collages and drawings are composed of his ephemera, along with notes written on my diaries while processing grief and the imaginary.