Plátano no. 1 (Bodega Foods Series)

2020–2026

DESCRIPTION: In Plátano no. 1, two green plantains curve toward one
another like bodies in conversation. Familiar within Afro-Caribbean and
Latin American kitchens, the plátano becomes both cultural symbol and
sculptural form—honored for its beauty, texture, and presence.
Part of the ongoing Bodega Foods Series, the work reflects the artist’s
memories of visiting neighborhood bodegas with her grandmother in
Brooklyn, where food carried the feeling of home across generations and
borders. The plantains appear suspended within a soft monochromatic
field, inviting viewers to consider the intimacy held within ordinary objects.
Layers of translucent fabric, resin, thread, and pigment create a soft
atmospheric surface that recalls domestic textiles, preservation, and ritual
adornment. Through stillness and simplicity, the work resists disposability
and instead offers food as portraiture—alive with memory, migration, and
devotion.