“Mi dulce rosa” (My Sweet Rose)

 

VOTIVE

The rose speaks of love silently,
in a language known only to the heart.
— Unknown

 

My fascination with roses began simply—giving them to relatives and sweethearts as gestures of affection. Over time, the rose became more than a gift. It became a symbol of love, appreciation, and care that moved quietly through the moments of my life.

Roses took on a deeper meaning at the time of my mother’s transition. It was a quiet and deeply moving moment that has remained with me.

 

At her burial, I watched as the memorial flowers that had been placed on her coffin were removed and discarded without care. To me, those flowers were sacred. They carried love, prayer, and presence. I gathered them and brought them home, placing them in a suitcase that had belonged to my mother. Nearly two years later, when I opened it again, I discovered the roses still remarkably preserved.

 

That moment led me to develop a process of rehydrating the rose petals and transforming them into new works. The intention is not to restore the flowers as they were, but to allow them to continue in another form.

 

This work is an act of love and remembrance—a way of honoring my mother and reflecting on how we carry love, memory, loss, and the quiet continuation of life.