Art in El Hormiguero

Eighteen years ago, when Gabriela and I purchased this property, it already had a name, "El Hormiguero," and a sense of place. For 15 years, it was used as a horse ranch, a place for barbecues, and an occasional overnight stay among the ruins.

As an artist, I have been actively involved in producing artwork for over 50 years, and more specifically, in applying it to architectural environments. I stumbled upon the most important lesson an artist, or indeed anyone, can adopt; and that is to not force any solution, but rather to be still and contemplate because "it will reveal itself."

The obvious intangible qualities of El Hormiguero are the location and the views. What revealed itself to me as a creative person was to make this particular place a sacred place. Not sacred in the religious sense, but rather a place to find personal sanctuary.

In designing the master plan for the property and the lofts, I worked to achieve an indoor-outdoor experience that would enhance the intangibles of Hormiguero while also giving me the opportunity to experience a personal sanctuary, a place to play, where activities could spark joy and allow me to explore my interests and passions.

An unexpected opportunity for creation arose when the pool's retaining wall was being built. The massive stone wall, with numerous protruding pipes for rainwater drainage, reminded me of all the various sculptural waterspouts I've seen and created in my work as an applied artist. The choice was obvious: to combine my two passions, sculpture and mythology, and apply the works as another layer of interest for Hormiguero's guests, not only on the wall, but also in and around the property.