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Tapping Into Ancient Symbols
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2021/07 – July
Artist Gloria Hernando’s work draws upon a spirit that’s ancient and profoundly Feminine.
Gloria Hernando is a passionate, multi-faceted artist. At each turn she reflects new light, color, spirit, possibility, and discovery. Her roots run deep, tapping into ancient symbols and mysteries, making way for the feminine. She spins an invisible organic thread, connecting fire to light to earth to water to metal to air and sky.
Latin for Glory speaks volumes. Gloria’s given name is Latin for glory – the word overflowing with power, light, honor, and beauty. It has a spiritual connotation, but in a universal sense. As it is spoken, the o-sound is round and resonant and feminine-ly soft.
Gloria, an artist, interior designer, and student of architecture, is drawn to elemental symbols and the archetypal bull, which represents spirit, generative power, strength. On the surface the bull seems anything but feminine, but cultures ancient-to-modern revere its organic line, particularly the horns and the negative space between them, for horns and space mimic the shape and components of the womb, and from it creation comes.
Gloria, a Dominican-American, went through a personal crisis a while ago. To rise out of the abyss, she adopted the bull as a symbol and took to heart the power of her name. Her mission: to empower women (and men) through her iconic images.
Terra Mater, Latin for Mother Earth is Gloria’s current series. In Western literature, the hero’s journey is rarely that of a woman. In Gloria’s research and exploration, she is uncovering and celebrating the feminine. Classic tales of heroism usually focus on earth’s elements. Humankind is genetically-wired to fire, water, air. We can’t live without them, so it’s no wonder the arts are steeped in them. But this time, Gloria’s elemental journey is distinctly and divinely feminine. As she says, “We need more woman power!”
“My artwork and career are a journey,” she says. “I show the behind-the-scenes work. I communicate each step with my personal life. I invite people to join my journey on Instagram@latinforglory and my website, latinforglory.com.
