JAIME SUÁREZ
(San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1946)
Totemic vessel, 2003
Clay sculpture with oxides and enamels
MAB’s permanent collection (Artist Donation)
The totem is a symbol represented in various cultures in the form of an animal, plant or natural object, and is revered for embodying the origin or essence of a community. It’s an emblem of the tribe that serves as a guardian or a creator figure (Sam Atkinson and Paula Regan, 2021). In this sculpture, the totem is a vessel, a container used to store liquids and food. Through its use of clay, it connects us to our indigenous roots and their closeness with the land.