Joya AiR, Spain

Artist In Residence September 2024

Art as Research.

©KAT

I was one of several artitst selected to attend Joya AiR - a not for profit artist residency developed by artists for artists, based in the Parque Natural Sierra María, Los Vélez, National Park in Spain.

My focus during the residency was on the language of place - collecting and experimenting with local pigments (earth, clays, plants), sounds (field recordings), and other sensory impressions, as part of my research into earth pigments.

However, as a large part of my practice involves play, I leave you with these, some of the ‘creatures’ I found hiding in the otherwise abandoned baron landscape of the Parque Natural Sierra María…

September 2025 -2026 - The original creatures were captured using silver tone mode on my iPhone camera. I have since revisited them several times, each time refining them, washing them with the colours of the earth, matching the colour to the pigments I foraged during my residency, as well as those in my memory.

The final 8 beings below are curated to capture the spirit of place.

Àlvaro - Elf warrior, Amaranta - Unfading, Javier - New home, Luminosa - Light, Genoveva - White shadow, Alejandra - Protector of mankind, Ximena - One who hears, Juan - John