Shadow in Scorpio

The artist’s first solo exhibition in New Zealand, titled “Shadow in Scorpio,” emerges 10 years after she departs from Chile, her homeland. The exhibition focuses on a journey through memory, inner landscapes, and grieving.

The collection includes a series of interior scenes from her home and her parents’ home in Chile. The pictorial imagery seeks to encapsulate the experience of seeing these intimate spaces for the last time, condensing time into the materiality of oil paint.

Each room captures a moment in time, evoking a sense of nostalgia and introspection. Visitors will find familiar spaces that simultaneously challenge the concept of familiarity and normality.

One of the pieces selected for this exhibition is titled “My father said: Never go back to the place where you were happy,” and represents the last view the artist had of this space, built by her late father. The painting strives to inhabit this space from memory, to let it go.

Each painting invites viewers to immerse themselves in the narrative, connecting with their own memories and emotions. Altogether, “Shadow in Scorpio” offers a visual exploration of shadow, providing a space for reflection and connection.

All artworks are for sale.

Artist Biography

Estefanía Mondaca, originally from Chile, has seamlessly integrated into the vibrant art community of New Zealand since her arrival. Her work has been prominently featured at renowned venues such as the Ashburton Art Gallery, where she was a finalist for ZONTA 2024. Additionally, she has been selected to showcase her work at a group painting show in Coca in June, and is consistently showcased at the Linwood Eastside Gallery as a local artist.

Estefania’s art journey is characterized by a rich blend of influences, ranging from her academic background in the painting school of the University of Chile to charcoal drawing, and collage. Her work often revolves around the theme of memory, capturing the essence of both Chile and New Zealand through a combination of personal recollections and found imagery. Her dedication to materiality and the different phases of her creative process underscores the profound relationship between artists, materials, and their lived realities.