Water Emerges

Water Emerges is part of RÍO: The Watershed of El Yunque the third Exhibition of arteYUNQUE at El Portal de El Yunque trail in El Yunque National Forest. From October 14, 2025 – July 18, 2026.

Water Emerges is an abstract installation composed of glazed ceramic modules assembled into columns of varying heights, alluding to the birth and life of rivers in El Yunque’s watershed.

The work’s verticality reflects the cycles of water, from the clouds to the rivers across the mountain range. It invites viewers to perceive the rivers and the forest as an interconnected whole. Shiny glazes and gradual tonal shifts evoke natural elements: the darker hues at the base reference river rocks, while the grays above suggest clouds and the different states of water.

The installation features two reliefs: a dwarf duende (Eleutherodactylus unicolor), a species endemic to El Yunque’s highlands, and a sea fan coral (Gorgonia ventalina), which links the rivers to marine ecosystems and highlights ecological interdependence. The piece also underscores the relationship between ecosystems and local communities, such as the island of Vieques, which receives water from the Río Blanco through an underwater pipeline.

Installed in the forest, the work reveals its dynamic, living character as it shifts with natural light, rainfall, and other elements. Water Emerges invites reflection on the ecological, cultural, and social interconnectedness of bodies of water.

Lena Galíndez’s practice is deeply inspired by Puerto Rico’s natural environment, particularly through the documentation of reefs and other ecosystems in Vieques. In her studio, she combines artisanal techniques with technology to explore serial production and experimentation with materials.

Text by arteYUNQUE and The Art Walk PR