I’m thrilled that I managed to finish my sculpture before leaving my art studio. It was a messy project, and my workspace was the only place where I could have brought it to life. I learned so much in the process.
I began by constructing a wire skeleton, then built up the form using balled-up newspaper and tape. Uncertain about sculpting the face, I used a doll head as a base, layering it with glue and newspaper strips to ensure the proportions were right.
To shape the heart’s arteries, I bundled and rolled newspaper, cutting it into sections. I then used powdered papier-mâché to refine the lips, edges, and overall form. For the brain, I sculpted sausage-like folds from papier-mâché paste, using reference images for accuracy.
Positioning the two figures together required careful planning to maintain correct proportions. I secured them together with wood and rope.
In the background, you can see the original sketch that inspired this sculpture.
The hands were made from wire and tape before being covered in papier-mâché. As I added layers to the bodies, I took photos to assess where additional shaping was needed.
When I started this project, there was a chance to exhibit it at the Popular Arts Museum in Mexico City—provided I collaborated with a Mexican papier-mâché artist. The museum director even connected me with an artist known for Lucha Libre themes, but they weren’t available. I reached out to another artist I admired from the toy museum in San Miguel de Allende but was unable to establish contact. Eventually, I decided to complete the sculpture on my own.
I missed the deadline to be included in the exhibition catalog, which was set a year before the show. Though disappointed, I was still proud to have followed through on my idea.
Before sealing the heads, I attached the eyes—made from cork balls, coated with eight layers of gesso, and detailed with enamel paint. Once the heads were closed, I taped off the eyes to continue painting. The bodies were base-coated with spray paint, then refined with enamel details. I added false eyelashes from my collection and created the boot laces from faux leather and cording, gluing them onto the sculpted leg forms.
Here the tops of the heads have been attached and sealed off.
The sculpture represents two female wrestlers—embodying the heart and the brain—locked in conflict. Tension arises from struggle, manifesting in flesh, bone, sweat, and pain. What begins as a debate escalates into an altercation where logic clashes with instinct, reason with emotion. Their fight appears unresolved, yet they are deeply connected—sisters, soulmates, perhaps even twins. In their duality, I see the past and future, good and evil, resistance and resolution.
The final stage of this project is a performance and video, incorporating sculpture, painting, costumes, and writing.