In Loíza, we are surrounded by nature, we are connected to it and it is part of our essence.
~ Samuel Lind, Puerto Rican Painter, Sculptor & Environmental Advocate
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Art is something I’ve admired for the past few decades.
Growing up in New York City, one of the world’s art meccas, it was ubiquitous — in the subway, on the streets, in galleries and museums, in schools. So being surrounded by its many forms, whether via music, visual media, theatre, or opera, I was no stranger to these unique and impressive forms of expression.
Then, when I became obsessed with tango in 2006, yet another art form would intimately touch me. And while I eventually dated a tango dancer or two, I’d never been seriously romantically involved with an artist on a renowned level. That would happen in late 2021 after returning to Borikén, my ancestral land, and subsequently becoming involved with a painter and sculptor.
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Nature as Metaphor
Though I proudly wear the ‘titles’ of spoken word poet, tanguera, and cultural storyteller, I shy away from calling myself an artist. I consider the term only applies to those who have dedicated their lives to their craft and are making a viable income therefrom.
But I realize this is subjective. We can call ourselves whatever we choose, just like those who say ‘I write therefore I am a writer.’
What does all of this have to do with nature and naked pictures? Well, as an admirer of art, I seek to stretch my imagination by asking what I see beyond the visual in front of me. Sometimes I’ll try to figure out what message the artist intended to convey. Other times, I set the analysis aside and simply appreciate the aesthetic of it all.
The thing with art and nature is the duo adds another dimension to one’s interpretation. To say that nature is art (or vice versa) is to oversimply, it’s cliché. To offer nature as a metaphor for life also sounds cliché — what does it mean?
In conversations with my partner, he often describes how growing up in his native coastal town of Loíza impacted his art. Surrounded by coconut palm trees, swimming in the ocean, walking along the beach, listening to los zorzales (thrush birds) and coquís, and observing his family/neighbors going about their daily lives was a source of inspiration. It was also what motivated him to draw and paint the scenes with nature as a backdrop.
For him, it was about much more than simply painting natural landscapes — it was capturing the essence of his people, los loíceños y las loíceñas in all their spectacular vibrancy.
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A Jealous Lover
For much of my life, I’ve carried a jealous streak — as a child, it annoyed me when one of my best friends spent more time with another of our mutual besties. That was unhealthy, I realize it all these years later.
Those feelings also transferred to my romantic liaisons — again toxic and unnecessary.
Though I am no longer as jealous as I once was (thank you, therapy sessions!), it still manifests itself every once in a while. So when I first saw the digitally enhanced-in-nature images in Samuel’s studio, I questioned him. Nonchalantly, he mentioned he’d taken them decades earlier — they were of his second cousin, who is also a painter, and photographer [she’s also a documentary filmmaker]. She gave full consent to being photographed.
There are only two images and if I’m to be neutral, they are tastefully created. One reveals his cousin’s breasts and pubic hair with a bright floral background. The other image is of two women seated on the ground, surrounded by coconut palm trees, embracing one another. I remember asking him if there had been any ‘funny stuff’ going on between them back in the day.
His calm expression and demeanor made me realize how absurd my question was. The other part I cannot omit is that those two images are part of a three-photograph series of femmes in nature (Ella Natura). The third one is of me. I still remember that day. As I was done washing up, I sat for a moment on the side of his Moroccan-inspired tile bathtub. Wanting to capture the visual, Samuel grabbed his $3,000 Sony and re-positioned me so that only my bare buttocks and my back were to his lens.
Those three images are printed and kept in an archival-protected sleeve portfolio, available for visitors wishing to purchase the same. He has already sold a few of mine.
I’ll admit, when I’m at Samuel’s studio, I sometimes drop by his first-floor back room where he keeps his Ella Natura portfolio — to turn the page, ensuring my image is the one in full view.
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I wrote this as a reflection of my cultural identity and how it shaped my inhibitions. It’s also a reminder of something I still struggle with, albeit to a lesser degree: jealousy & control.
Gracias for reading.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash
