ARTIST STATEMENT
Layers of Life, Layers of Body, Layers of Nature’s Reality
In the quiet hum of nature, there exists a profound truth—life is not singular, but layered. The unfolding of existence, much like the intricate patterns in the soil, the bark of trees, or the petals of a flower, reveals itself in overlapping depths. These layers, though invisible at times, are always present, woven into the fabric of reality itself.
In this body of work, we explore the layers of life—the delicate yet powerful interplay between existence and essence. Life, as it is experienced, is a series of interwoven moments, thoughts, and sensations that accumulate over time, leaving behind subtle traces of our journey. Each experience, like the rings of a tree or the sediment of an ancient riverbed, builds upon what has come before, shaping the contours of our being.
Similarly, we are reminded that the layers of the body are not merely physical. Beneath the skin, our muscles and bones hold the stories of our actions, our choices, our growth. Each scar, each curve, each cell is a testament to a deeper truth—our bodies are not just vessels, but maps of our personal evolution, marked by the passage of time.
And then, there is the layer of reality—the unseen forces that govern the universe, that bind us to the earth and to each other. What we see, what we touch, what we know, is but a small fraction of a far more complex and intricate reality. Like the atmosphere that encircles the planet, this layer envelops us, often invisible, but always present, shaping how we perceive and relate to the world.
MaRTA Ornelas Monteiro
Marta Ornelas Monteiro is an architect turned multidisciplinary artist working between sculpture and nature-based art practices. Her work explores the layered relationship between body, memory, and natural systems, often drawing from organic textures, geological formations, and environmental processes. Through immersive compositions and material experimentation, she investigates how personal and collective histories are embedded in physical matter, engaging with themes of transformation and time. Her practice is grounded in the exploration of different strata of existence, examining the relationships between body, landscape, materiality, and time.
Based in Portugal, she develops work within an international context of contemporary art.