Sculpture by Carlota Mantero

Carlota Mantero constructs evocative composites by incorporating elements from photography, ceramics, iron, zinc, acrylics, and resins. Heavy in symbolism, the materials are not only structural but emotional; each element carries its own metaphorical weight, contributing to a layered narrative. In this piece, Mantero invokes the Sanskirt word Vilomah, which identifies parents who have lost their children. Where Indo-European languages fall silent, Vilomah gives name to a pain and grief that is otherwise linguistically unacknowledged. She not only identifies the limitations of languages but also confronts the emotional void of such loss. Her work becomes a vessel for mourning, remembrance, and the quiet resilience of those who carry indescribable loss. Notable exhibitions include Teogonia II, Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Lisbon, (2025); Alma da Minha Terra, Bienal de Trás- os-Montes, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, (2024); Do Oriente vem a Luz – O Deserto, Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes (SNBA), Lisbon, (2018).