“BACK TO BEING” JULIAN CLAVIJO
November 26-December 17
Back to Being is an exhibition of new paintings by Julian Clavijo. This series is an introspection on the interconnectedness between humans and all other living creatures, especially the current endangered species of animals and the imaginary ones that might evolve when we are no longer here.
In adherence to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, the year 2023 marks a disconcerting reality – a daily demise of up to 150 species. This staggering figure translates to a formidable 10% depletion of our overall biodiversity within a mere decade. Experts project that the current pace of species loss surpasses the natural extinction rate by an alarming margin, ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 times. Unlike the preceding five mass extinctions recorded in geological history, our era stands out as a unique challenge, one where a singular species, our own, shoulders the predominant responsibility for this precipitous decline.
The implications of this accelerated extinction trend extend beyond the realm of biodiversity. As the planet has demonstrated a remarkable ability to regenerate and life to flourish repeatedly, the overarching concern lies in the future of humanity. Even as new species emerge and ecosystems regain equilibrium through the immutable laws of time, a poignant question persists – how have humans, ostensibly the stewards of the Earth, found themselves ensnared in a social-consumerist, self-destructive system that severs the intrinsic ties that sustain us?
At the heart of this exhibition lies a profound realization – the Earth is not an inheritance bequeathed to our progeny but a loan borrowed from them. Renowned artist Clavijo has meticulously crafted a series of portraits featuring children who, with a sense of heroism, step forward to witness and safeguard our essential nature, embracing it as their own. "Back to Being" constitutes a poignant body of work dedicated to our species, offering a hopeful testament from a generation that rejects self-destructive lifestyles and acknowledges the interconnectedness of all life forms. In this narrative, animals become our spirit, and we become theirs – acknowledging the species that have vanished due to human impact, those still enduring, and those yet to emerge.