THE GUARDIAN OF THE PIER

This painting is the living presence of my great-grandmother, the great storyteller of my family and the guardian of our deepest roots. She was the one who mesmerized me with stories about the mythical mermaids of the port and the vibrant tales of the immigrants who arrived at the historic pier of Puerto Colombia. Among these stories, the most celebrated and personal was that of my great-grandfather, who crossed the ocean and disembarked carrying a simple but precious burlap bag, filled to the brim with gold coins.

However, this canvas goes far beyond family history; it is the visual construction of our collective memory. The surreal 'fish-butterfly' creatures that float around him are the visual symbol of one of our essential fusions. In Colombia, we are the vibrant and mestizo product of a unique blend of European, Indigenous, and African heritage, a legacy celebrated here.

On her head, with dignified bearing, she carries not her great-grandfather's gold, but a tray laden with the richest and most diverse fruits of our land, crowned with a pineapple and bananas. This offering symbolizes our true heritage: the abundance and natural wealth of our land, the perseverance of our people, and the unwavering respect for our mestizo identity and all that we are today.