Lidia Paladino’s artistic journey began with a focus on drawing and engraving, leading her to explore the dynamic world of textile design for an extended period. After a long hiatus, she decided to return to her engraving career, updating her techniques and embarking on a path that has brought her deep personal satisfaction. In 2003, she was awarded the First Municipal Prize for Engraving, an achievement that propelled her forward in her artistic endeavors. Paladino’s exploration of various media, including handmade paper and reliefs made from discarded materials, reflects her evolving connection with the material world. One of her early works, “Presencias” (1995), exemplifies her engraving mastery through its use of the burin technique combined with the poupee method, showing the depth of her skill in both execution and concept. Her work is beautifully captured in a photograph by Pablo Messil, serving as a testament to her continuous progression in the field of engraving.
Lidia Paladino’s work is deeply rooted in the understanding that the world is in constant flux. “Things are not separate, they constitute our body and our spirit,” she reflects, offering insight into her holistic approach to artmaking. This philosophy of interconnectedness can be seen throughout her career as she blends different materials and techniques, embracing the transient nature of objects and materials she incorporates into her works. The discarded materials she uses serve as metaphors for memory, time, and transformation, all themes that resonate strongly in her reliefs and paintings.
One of her significant pieces, Entre Hierros (2006), a 100 x 100 cm oil painting made from recycled materials, demonstrates her ability to work with both conventional and unconventional media. The reliefs within this painting mirror the ancestral memory of wear and time. Paladino’s tactile engagement with the materials brings a physicality to her work, where touch and texture play as important a role as color and form. For her, the relief is not just a visual element but a memory in itself—a record of time’s passage and the story held within each material.
Paladino’s exploration of engraving is equally complex, requiring a high level of skill and patience. She delves deeply into the technique, finding joy in the way lines, planes, and chiaroscuro interact to break the conventional two-dimensional boundaries of the medium. Through engraving, she constructs atmospheric compositions that invite viewers to lose themselves in the intricate world she creates.
In De la serie Otros Mundos: Inaprehensible I – II, Paladino uses the etching technique combined with the poupee method to create two plates, each measuring 80 x 50 cm. The works are layered with lines, planes, and nuances that evoke transparency and depth. Her intention is to capture the balance of external and internal forms, reworking these observations into something more profound. Each element is meticulously organized, reflecting Paladino’s desire to explore the boundaries of space and structure.
This commitment to exploring the nuances of nature and its connection to the human experience is also evident in her graphite drawings. In Serie de la Vida I – II (2011), the precision of her lines showcases the detail and care that Paladino brings to her work. The pieces, measuring 76 x 110 cm, exhibit a deep understanding of form and the way it interacts with space. Her graphite drawings, much like her engravings, serve as a study in balance and structure. Each drawing presents a subtle interplay of light and shadow, a testament to her ability to transform simple materials into profound reflections on life.
Paladino’s artistic philosophy revolves around her rapport with materials. She views the natural world as an ongoing source of inspiration, something to observe and learn from continuously. The use of recycled materials in her work not only serves as an artistic choice but also speaks to her connection to the natural cycle of creation, decay, and rebirth. The textures and forms she creates mirror these cycles, giving her works a sense of timelessness and connection to something greater than the individual.
For Lidia Paladino, art is not a static form. It is alive, evolving, and deeply connected to both the materials and the emotions from which it is made. Through her exploration of engraving, drawing, and reliefs, she captures the essence of this movement, creating works that speak to the transient yet interconnected nature of life itself.
