Graft|Now&There
Graft, 2023
Corten Steel and Polished Concrete
curator: Pedro Alonzo for Now & There
www.nowandthere.org/graft
Hailing from Puerto Rico, Edra Soto has delved deep into her cultural memory to create Graft, a collection of four sculptures that serve as benches and celebrate architectural fusion. The installation beautifully incorporates Puerto Rican palm leaves into a geometric pattern, casting playful shadows and evoking a comforting sense of the island in the heart of Boston.
The motifs found in Graft draw inspiration from Puerto Rican “rejas” (wrought-iron grates) and their West African Yoruba origins, encouraging visitors to explore the complex circulations of architecture and cultural heritage. As she does in many of her works, this internationally recognized artist, curator, and educator invites the public to reconsider the origins of what are often assumed to be Puerto Rican motifs and the impact of colonialism.
Graft is on view at Central Wharf Park across from the New England Aquarium at 250 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA.