"I do not define myself by a single medium. I prefer to think of my practice as a fluid territory, where the choice of material always responds to what I want to communicate. Materiality is essential, and the most important thing is that each work finds its own way of existing."
- Rosana Machado Rodríguez
Rosana Machado Rodríguez. Ofrenda I AND Ofrenda II. 2024. Fabric, gold leaf, embroidery thread, embroidery hoop frame. Edition of 5. 10.43 in ø.
Through discovery and experimentation, Rosana Machado Rodríguez’s works stitch a bond between materiality and her relationship with the natural world. With curiosity as a driving force, Machado often incorporates various mediums into her pieces and lets her imagination along with inspirations around guide her artistic practice.
Join us in this Q & A as Rosana Machado Rodríguez shares more about how the technological medium, sound art has impacted her process and what October means for her creative journey.
Rosana Machado Rodríguez. Presencia Dislocada I / Dislocated Presence I. 2024. Fabric, Fabric, embroidery thread, embroidery hoop frame. Edition of 5. 12.6 IN ø.
What is impacting your practice at the moment?
Rosana Machado Rodríguez: I have just inaugurated a sound installation with a strong imprint connected to spirituality and the mystery that transcends us. In the middle of a black room that blurs spatial references, a pile of golden stones is illuminated by a single spotlight while recordings of prayers in different languages and cultures resonate, captured during my travels and experiences in various parts of the world. Eventually, the words fade away, leaving only sound.
What is impacting my practice at this moment is precisely this exploration of sound as a medium to inquire into the intangible, into that which connects the individual with the collective. I am interested in thinking of sound not only as an aesthetic support, but as a material that can embody memory, belief, and rituality. I believe that beyond music, sound has not yet been sufficiently explored as an artistic medium, although it is gradually gaining greater relevance. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sound Art, which is providing me with valuable tools to reflect on how sound shapes our daily lives and, from there, to transform it into an artistic medium.
Rosana Machado Rodríguez. DETAIL OF Still III. 2025. Fabric, Photopgraphy, Fabric and threads. 19.3 x 27 IN.
What work are you most excited to make next?
RMR: With the arrival of spring and the increasing sunlight (I live in Argentina), I am very excited to begin a new series using cyanotypes, one of the oldest photographic techniques, which relies on sunlight to reveal images. My plan is to develop a series where the direct imprint of plants coexists with geometric patterns created through embroidery, creating a dialogue between the organic and the constructed.
I am interested in exploring the perceptive capacities of plants, the relationships they establish with each other, and how our actions affect them. In parallel, I want to revisit some aerial embroidery projects that I had put on hold, connecting them to a study of botanical illustration—not only as a scientific record but also as a visual language rich in history.
What first comes to mind when you think of the month of October? Do you have a personal connection with it?
RMR: October is a special month for me because it is when my sister was born. At first, I felt a little jealous (I must admit!), but over time I realized that our sisterhood is a very strong bond: she is the person with whom I shared my childhood, adolescence, and many confidences throughout our lives.
It is also the month when spring begins to arrive here in Argentina. My studio is on a terrace full of plants and flowers, so it becomes a space I really enjoy working in during this season.
This October is particularly meaningful because it coincides with a very active moment in my career. I am participating in three simultaneous exhibitions: the Textile Art Salon at the José Hernández Museum, where I received an honorable mention for the works Dislocated Presence; the show Claroscuro featuring my immersive sound installation, which I mentioned at the beginning, and the Contemporary exhibition at Caixa Cultural in São Paulo, opening on October 14.
So, this is a very rewarding month for me, both professionally and personally.
Rosana Machado Rodríguez. Presencia Dislocada II / Dislocated Presence II. 2024. Fabric, Fabric, embroidery thread, embroidery hoop frame. Edition of 5. 12.6 IN ø.
Is there a story behind the mediums/materials you choose to make your art with?
I am curious and I love learning new things so I am always exploring different possibilities. For me, the combination of materials and media is essential, as it enriches and adds complexity to the work. Over the years, I have worked with ceramics, textiles, photography, resin, video, and sound. I am particularly interested in the contrast between the manual and the technological: spending many hours at the computer editing photos, videos, or audio, and then returning to direct contact with materials in more physical processes. That balance feels necessary to me.
In general, my works do not originate from a specific material, but from an idea or an image that drives me to find the most suitable medium to express it. This can result in anything from a small resin piece to an immersive installation.
I do not define myself by a single medium. I prefer to think of my practice as a fluid territory, where the choice of material always responds to what I want to communicate. Materiality is essential, and the most important thing is that each work finds its own way of existing.
Rosana Machado Rodríguez. DETAIL OF Still I. 2025. Fabric, Photopgraphy, Fabric and threads. 27 x 19.3 IN.
"Vulnerability not only occurs at an intimate, domestic level but also at a social and economic one that exposes us to external demands. We are constantly encouraged to consume, even transforming our own bodies towards an ideal image."
- Rosana Machado Rodríguez
To see a curated view of Rosana's work, check our newest viewing room on Artsy, where we feature this newest series on the platform.