Vine of the Soul

Show Statement: Anima Mundi or "The World Soul" is the connection between all living things on our planet much the way a soul is considered to be connected to a body. It is a shared, intrinsic life forcewithin plants and animals alike that make up the spirit of our universe. With these pieces I explore this allegory, the heart of which is found through a treasure hunt of hidden symbols and clues. Like root vines they weave their way wrapping around patterns and bending to the narrative.  Alchemy symbols and mandalas serve as ancient codex, a telling of how we make sense of matter and materials and their cosmic relationships to us as a species. The sum total of universal life can be found in ancient elements that began long before we did and will continue telling our story long after we leave.

Leilani Bustamante was born in Santa Rosa California and is a graduate of the Academy of Art University. She grew up between the suburban sprawl and rural Fort Bragg, where she draws inspiration from their simultaneous decay and growth. Her work often voices themes of mortality exploring elements of death, rebirth, beauty and spoil, the loveliness of the macabre and the mournful influence of osteological motifs. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.