By VozEs
In this conversation with Edwin Gil, the heart ceases to be a romantic symbol and becomes a space for memory, confrontation, and self-awareness. At 54, the artist speaks to us from a deeply personal place, shaped by relationships, losses, and lessons that have led him to question not only his understanding of love, but also the social and cultural patterns that shape our emotions.
His new series, *Corazones*, does not stem from aesthetics, but from necessity. It is the result of more than three years of inner searching, uncomfortable pauses, and an honest dialogue with himself. As he himself states, art has saved his life, and this series represents another act of rescue: transforming the wound into awareness.
Through canvas, ceramics, and glass, the Colombian artist constructs metaphors using materials that embody fragility, resilience, and transparency. What begins as a deeply personal process expands into the collective, reminding us that many of our wounds are not individual, but generational and shared.
In these times of polarization and emotional disconnection, *Corazones* proposes an ethical return to the center. Not to the idealized heart, but to the heart as a responsibility, as a driving force for empathy, and as the place where all transformation begins.
Edwin, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., speaks to us through vulnerability, memory, silence, and courage—about what we still don’t dare to hear when the heart speaks.
Edwin What led you to choose the heart as the central theme of this new series?
The series emerged from a profound inner search triggered by failed relationships that led me to question my own understanding of love. Through that process, I came to understand that the heart was not merely a romantic symbol, but the emotional center where our social, cultural, and familial conditioning resides. As I explored those patterns, I discovered just how much they influence our decisions and relationships. That is where it all began.
And, as I have said throughout my career, art saved my life. This series is another form of that salvation.
From what emotional place does Hearts?
It stems from an honest inner dialogue. From the need to understand my own behavioral patterns and the social conditioning that often guides our emotions without us even realizing it. It is a process of confrontation and, at the same time, of self-compassion.
Do these hearts speak more to the personal or to the collective?
They begin with the intimate, with what is deeply personal. But in the process, they become a mirror of the collective. Because when one dares to look inward, one discovers that many wounds are not individual: they are generational, cultural, and shared.
What wounds, memories, or silences are contained within these pieces?
Every heart holds a story. At 54, I have accumulated many memories, lessons, losses, silences, and reconciliations. Some speak of love, others of betrayal, and still others of hope. All of them contain vulnerability. And all of them seek to transform the wound into awareness.
How does this series engage with the social and human reality we are experiencing today?
We live in times of polarization, noise, and emotional disconnection. I believe we need to return to the heart—not as a romantic symbol, but as an ethical compass. The series invites us to cultivate empathy, to recognize our own patterns, and to understand that whatever harms others also harms our own core. The heart cannot be fragmented without consequences.
What materials and processes did you use in *Corazones*, and why were they the right choice for this stage?
The series is presented in three mediums: canvas, ceramics, and glass. Each represents a stage in my artistic and emotional process.
Canvas allows for expansion and direct expression.
Ceramics speak to fragility and resilience—they break, but they are also transformed by fire.
Glass represents transparency, vulnerability, and light.
They are material metaphors for my own healing process.
Was there ever a moment during the creative process that challenged you or forced you to take a break?
Absolutely. This series has been in the works for over three years and has been deeply challenging. It has forced me to pause, to question my own internal narratives, and to confront aspects of myself that I would rather not face. But it is precisely during that pause that transformation takes place.
How is *Corazones* different from your previous series, such as *Sin Temor*?
Every series I've created has been a reflection of the moment I was experiencing. *Sin Temor* was about courage in the face of fear. *Corazones* is about conscious vulnerability. It represents where I am right now: an evolution toward a more introspective and emotionally honest perspective.
Where do you think these hearts should live?
I hope they find a home in spaces that invite reflection—galleries, homes, community spaces, even the street. I’m not just interested in the physical space, but in the emotional space where they can spark conversation, healing, and hope.
If one of these hearts could speak, what would it say that we still don’t dare to hear?
I would say that we need to take responsibility for our emotions. That love isn’t just about feeling, but about understanding. And that healing is an act of courage.
These hearts are already speaking through my blog, and they will continue to speak every time someone stops to look at them honestly.
Learn more about Edwin Gil on his website