Of Guarani descent, Julia Isídrez learned the ceramic techniques from her culture through her mother, artist Juana Marta Rodas, with whom she exhibited on many occasions, including at the 2nd Mercosul Biennial in 1999. In addition, Isídrez has worked to pass on these techniques to others. The artist explores different forms, volumes, lines, and dimensions through clay—first prepared with the feet and then shaped by hand, in keeping with the legacy of her ancestors.
In this series of sculptures, commissioned by the 14th Mercosul Biennial, she juxtaposes the tradition of Guarani utilitarian pottery from Itá with experimental zoomorphic forms, especially concerning the animals that have surrounded her home since childhood. Isídrez draws from the shapes of urns and vases in her formal experiments and creative play to craft pieces that transform and alter the conventional features of the animals depicted, highlighting the visual, formal, and fictional repertoire that defines her work.
Gabriela Wieczorek
Julia Isídrez (Paraguay, 1967) learned to work with clay from her mother, Juana Marta Rodas (1925-2013). Both mother and daughter honor a centuries-old tradition that traces back to pre-Columbian times in Paraguay, following the techniques of their Guarani ancestors. Her work is done in collaboration with family members and partners who work alongside the artist at Casa Museo Arte, where she teaches and creates her pieces. Her work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions at institutions such as the 60th Venice Biennale, the Museo del Barro, the 2nd Mercosur Biennale, the Santiago Triennale, and dOCUMENTA 13. Her works are in the Fondation Cartier Pour l'Art Contemporain, the Denver Art Museum, and the Museo del Barro collections. She lives in Itá, Paraguay.
