In her first solo exhibition, Ana Escobar Saavedra addresses identity as a fluid and layered process. It Starts Where It Ends, hosted at the 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi, offers a reflection on the cyclical nature of existence, where beginnings and endings merge into a continuum of experiences and meanings. At the heart of the Colombian artist’s research lies the linguistic duality of the Spanish verbs “ser” and “estar”, both translating to “to be” but distinguishing between permanent essence and temporary state. This distinction guides Escobar Saavedra’s exploration, as she sculpts materials like marble and granite - traditionally associated with durability - into forms that evoke the vulnerability of human skin, with its scars and mutations. The works on display also interrogate the relationship between the individual and institutions, reimagining official documents, certificates, and lockets into objects that question the permanence of identification systems. Through these artifacts, the artist invites reflection on how our identity is influenced by both personal memory and bureaucratic structures. The exhibition’s title, It Starts Where It Ends, emphasizes the cyclical nature of Escobar Saavedra’s work and echoes the palindromic structure of her name, “Ana”, symbolizing an identity in constant renewal. The exhibition is part of the 421 Artistic Development Program, an initiative supporting emerging artists in the United Arab Emirates by providing them the opportunity to develop a cohesive body of work for their first solo exhibition.
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