The jury, composed of professors from UFV and representatives from Cancorp, awarded the first prize to Marta Cuiñas’ sculpture, “Florecer de piedra,” for its conceptual power, technical skill, and ability to engage with the surrounding space. “Receiving the award was a lovely surprise. I experienced it as that feeling that what you do connects with someone on the other side—which, in the end, is what an artist seeks. My work arises from the encounter between two forces that coexist within every human being. The stone represents our fears, the weight of stress, our failures and mistakes, and all those rough edges we carry that sometimes seem to weigh us down. The flower that rises from it symbolizes the human capacity to grow from what weighs us down the most. Thus, the work shows that beauty does not arise in spite of our difficulties, but thanks to them,” shares the contest winner.
Sofía González’s piece, “Alma del viento,” was awarded second prize for its originality and formal coherence, while Elena Chan’s entry, “Antrophos,” received an honorable mention for its aesthetic sensibility and the depth of its concept.