Vilomah

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).