Cody Graber

Doris Salcedo

Born and raised in Colombia, Doris Salcedo grew up as a victim to the corruption that the Colombian government would impose on their citizens, the intense presence of Colombian mafias, and the widespread poverty that affected the majority of Colombia’s inhabitants. Witnessing the aftereffects of these vices since she was conceived in 1958, eventually took its toll on her by throwing her into a spiraling depression. In order to cope with her emotions and shine light on the inhuman circumstances that her people are faced with every day, Salcedo began directing the energy generated from her frustration with Colombia on her sculptures. By collecting remains, such as worn-out shoes and decrepit clothes, from the casualties caused by the mafia, and combining them with antique furniture, plants, and/or cement, Salcedo mourns the anonymous yet unforgotten deaths and disappearances of her people. Still relevant amongst the art community, Salcedo is producing the most astonishingly effective pieces that accurately depict the unbearable trauma experienced by a several Colombian families, while simultaneously highlighting a social issue that is decades away from resolution. Therefore, Salcedo is one of the most controversial artists in modern day society, right up there with Ai Weiwei.