Camino a-Dorado

Abstract

Is a reflective and critical exploration of the author's artistic formation at the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. Ardila recounts his journey through various techniques—drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and ceramics—detailing his evolution from technical exploration to a deeper search for personal identity and meaning. Initially focused on social and political themes, he experiences a turning point when he shifts attention to his own life experiences, rediscovering the value of craftsmanship and manual processes. Through experimentation and introspection, he identifies gold leaf as the central element of his practice—a material and symbolic thread representing the sacred and serving as a conceptual bridge to question identity, tradition, and daily life. Following this revelation, Ardila creates artworks that merge classical and contemporary techniques, incorporating unconventional materials such as zippers, fabrics, and household items tied to family memory, particularly his mother’s work as a seamstress. This personal connection transforms his art into acts of tribute, symbolic revaluation, and visual critique of his environment. His series Epifanía sin época and other mixed-media works mark a moment of aesthetic and conceptual maturity, where gold is not just a color but a metaphor for the sacredness of everyday objects and traditions. The text illustrates a path of introspective, technical, and emotionally engaged artistic development, grounded in authenticity and experimentation.