La Mecedora

This piece evokes the early morning environment of the artist’s childhood, blending elements from Cuban and Ukrainian heritage to reflect a layered personal identity. A rocking chair, a side table, and a cup serve as central symbols of this cultural intersection, each thoughtfully designed to embody aspects of both traditions. Woven and metal components draw inspiration from traditional Cuban rocking chairs and outdoor furniture, while the use of wood veneer and organic forms reflects Ukrainian craftsmanship.
Intentional splits and cracks in the veneer, accentuated with black, invite reflection on the beauty of imperfection and the acceptance of flaws. These gaps serve as a visual metaphor for the artist’s relationship with heritage, acknowledging what is present as well as what is absent.

The chair is constructed from thin layers of plywood, representing the strata of memory and identity, individual fragments that together shape the artist’s sense of self. The use of burl veneer is especially significant: burl results from an abnormal growth in a tree, often viewed as a natural mutation or irregularity. Its swirling, unpredictable patterns mirror the way the human brain forms and recalls memory, not as a linear record, but as a fragmented, layered, and sometimes distorted process. Through this material, the artist reflects on memory’s complexity, how it is shaped by both damage and resilience, and how beauty can emerge from irregularity.

The chair’s profile, subtly shaped to suggest curling waves, nods to the island landscape of the artist’s childhood and the surrounding ocean that shaped their early sense of place.