“The influence of beliefs, similar to the effect of looking through a glass, has the ability to transform reality.”
Sandra Cueva is a multidisciplinary designer with a passion for art, landscape and fashion. Her fascination with the botanical and colourful cultural heritage of Peru (country of birth) inspired her to explore how humans and nature are interconnected.
She experiments with a variety of styles and subjects to express her inner world in imaginary landscapes. Additionally, she conducts hand-painted denim workshops for adults and kids in Lima and the Netherlands. Painting is therapeutic, relaxing, and reflexive for her.
To showcase Peruvian embroidery, she founded Qinty Jeans, an enterprise working with women artisans and their traditional embroidery. Living in the Netherlands, she continues to develop her connection with nature through landscape architecture and participates in art projects with international creative women.
The influence of beliefs, similar to the effect of looking through a glass, has the ability to transform reality. Growing up surrounded by the customs and beliefs of our respective countries is a natural part of our lives. It is pertinent to note, however, that they also bring along prejudices that bind and hold us back; differences between men and women, preconceived ideas that can be frightening to challenge because they have been accepted as normal by society as a whole.
There is a story and a contrast in both paintings; it is a journey towards something unknown; it is an account of the artist's personal experience when she moved to another country. The character in the first story has a veil over her eyes (Inspired in the photograph Danny Bittencourt). She throws her uncertain future, her ties and her fears into the air along with herself, allowing her to see new possibilities and opportunities.
After living in the Netherlands for a year, the second painting was created. As a result, it is evident that she feels already immersed in a completely new culture. Being underwater is a pleasant experience, but
it can become uncomfortable after a few minutes. As well, leaving our comfort zones and customs is not easy. Floating is her goal, not sinking. We just have to learn to swim with it.
Both paintings are a process of self-discovery, liberation and adaptation. Water and veil are strong symbols of what glass represents. The way we look at reality changes according to the glass we are looking through.
