Natives of happiness

Natives of Happiness represents different memories of the artist, a mosaic of her experiences concerning the human body: its limits, its transformation, but also its movement and freedom. With this work, Carolina Amaya wants to remind us that our body is not immutable: we can change it, transform it, and heal it. Amaya does it through the power of beauty in all shapes and colors. In her art, femininity is no longer submitted to mainstream beauty ideals; it is hairy and voluptuous, erotic, free, and bold. Natives of Happiness celebrates the human body, encouraging self-acceptance and challenging outdated social rules.
At the same time, this work embodies Amaya’s process of confronting her ancestors' traumas, as well as personal experiences of violence from her own past. Becoming aware of them and transposing them into a sculpture helps her to break down generational blockages that have influenced her behavior since childhood. The resulting work of love, joy, and forgiveness is her path of healing.

Carolina Amaya is an ultra-contemporary Colombian artist based in Berlin. She is graduated in Audiovisual Media in Bogotá at the National University of Colombia, in Morphology at the UBA Universidad de Buenos Aires in Argentina, in Erotica and Politics Sciences at the Taller Multinacional in Mexico, and is currently pursuing a diploma in Colonialism, History, and Culture.
Amaya has a multidisciplinary approach, working in large-scale drawings, sculptures, and installations. Her work can be seen in notable galleries as well as through urban interventions (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Bogotá). In 2016, she was the first Colombian artist to become a member of VBK (Verein Berliner Künstler). In addition to her artistic pursuits, Carolina Amaya also participates as a speaker at various events. Her speeches cover topics such as the source of inspiration, creative processes, and personal growth. She also explores how emotions like fear, shame, and guilt can be transformed into positive and empowering forces.

Carolina Amaya’s artistic expression serves as an act of resistance, a declaration of independence from our mental structure. It is also a powerful way to recover from personal and intergenerational traumas. Through her practice, Amaya wants to remind us that true transformation begins within us. Her art is deeply rooted in her Latin American heritage, blending its rich cultural diversity with her experience in Berlin. Concretely using organic materials such as Bijao tree leaves, handcrafted textiles, raffia and human hair as a tribute to her ancestral heritage and celebration of Nature, while incorporating fetish and kinky materials such as leather, chains, metal from the erotic scene in Berlin. By juxtaposing these contrasting elements, Amaya's art pieces spark a dialogue between tradition and contemporary. Colonialism, identity, cultural hybridity, healing, and sensuality are themes explored by the artist with the intent to create a new narrative that celebrates the human body and its desires, allowing it to be wild and humoristic. Amaya’s work is a testament to the power of self-love, self-acceptance, kindness, and liberation from societal constrains, inspiring viewers to engage with their inner selves and explore the depths of their sensuality.