Ay, Corazon!
“Ay, Corazon” translates as “ay, my heart!”. It is an expression of pain for unrequited love. However, it is also a magical realist vision of romance and what hides within it. The pieces commemorate the ephemeral beauty of the dreams we build when we fall for someone; they also touch on how toxic the way romantic love is often understood. The world in this collection is a glittery and theatrical one because the experience of living those feelings is too vivid and intense to be portrayed with any subtlety.
This show is very much rooted in Latin America with its art, aesthetics and homage to the tradition of the overwrought melodramatic love story. It also references the French idea of exquisite beauty, one that both hurts and astounds. Ay Corazon is a space in which it’s possible to feel and remember those experiencing the big emotions of love and heartbreak without being at their mercy.
Ay Corazon is a collection of art which can be exhibited in a gallery, but it is also the framework for a multimedia art event which can be adapted to different locations.
These are the elements of an Ay Corazon show:
The art pieces by Daniela Smith-Fernandez
A craft table where people can write love letters, make cards, or do collages with their favourite quotes about love
A “bar timeline” table where people can draw throughout the show
A concert by three musicians, one anglophone, one francophone, one hispanophone. Each picks two songs to perform from this playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0dQ4iWnLKSw2a6jeFrne69
Drinks, ideally designed for the event
Other add-ons can include food, a craft sale, a raffle or tie-ins with local businesses
Please contact me if you are interested in holding an Ay Corazon event near you.
