Sibilants

2020 - PRESENT

Sulfur, also know as brimstone, is a naturally occurring crystalline element. It is popularly known for its destructive characteristic as an acidic, burning stone, though it has healing properties that are embraced in traditional medicine and folkloric practices around the world.

When experiencing pain or stress as a child, my paternal grandmother would give a bar of sulfur to roll on my body. She told me that the sulfur would make a light crackling sound, which meant that it was absorbing my “bad” energy”, “wind” or “cold”. When I held it for first time as a 5 year old, it instantly broke in my hand. Te dio aire — “you received air”, “air was given to you” or “air entered you”— is a common saying associated to this phenomenon.

Sibilants refers to the invisible force of a stream of air existing within this material as a decrepitating sound. Scientifically, sulfur carries a negative charge, absorbing static energy from anything it comes in contact with due to its loose electrons that combines with the ones in our bodies or environments, producing a sound. This reverberation matches its chemical denomination as just a letter S— one of the 8 voiceless consonants in the alphabet. Words that embody the content of this work coincidentally all begin with this mute sibilant: sulfur, shadow, study, snow, seat, space, science, sound, soul.

Sibilant 02 (Susana), 2020
Sulfur, cinder blocks, 15.5 x 8 x 19 inches

An ergonomic seat made by casting the print of my body in sulfur. Susana means wellness and it’s also my mother’s name.

LIVE PERFORMANCE

Sibilants, 2020
Performed by Romina Gonzales, script by Romina Gonzales, live keyboard by Jason Bauer.
Performed live via Zoom on September 5th, 2020 for The Hive Art Community Touchless Touch exhibition, curated by Kathie Halfin.

Preliminary studies

Special thanks to Jason Bauer, Victor & Susana Gonzales Villaran, Zulda Gonzales Castro and Cozy Cabin in the Catskills.