lazos terrenales | MCA&D
In lazos terrenales / earthly bonds, Edra Soto employs the patterns and materials found in Puerto Rican architecture to examine colonial histories, diasporic identities, and constructed social orders. lazos terrenales / earthly bonds builds upon Soto’s ongoing body of work, a series titled “Graft,” that utilizes rejas (wrought iron screens) to facilitate both architectural intervention and social practice. Through the geometric motifs in these rejas—a building element common on homes, businesses, and public structures throughout Puerto Rico—Soto introduces personal and shared histories to broader audiences.
The grates, pillars, and façades in lazos terrenales / earthly bonds investigate the colonial, Indigenous, and Black lineages that inform Puerto Rican identities. Portals are hidden within the curves and shapes of Edra Soto’s sculptural works, revealing glimpses of family portraits, landscapes, and memorabilia. lazos terrenales / earthly bonds highlights cultural and personal memories and questions methods of indoctrination from colonial traditions.