During their residency at FUNFAI, Fernanda and Lucía invited caregivers to explore their sensory and bodily perceptions as a pathway toward self-care. Drawing on the work of Ana Mendieta, the group—comprising caregivers, artists, and mediators—identified various physical and emotional discomforts that shaped the direction of their research. From this starting point, a creative process unfolded aimed at addressing these needs through artistic and nature-based practices.

Over the course of eight sessions, participants engaged in exercises in meditation, vocalization, and object-making, as well as the collective creation of a medicinal plant garden and a natural first-aid kit. Various human and non-human agents became part of the process, resulting in a healing kit that now belongs to the CASAFUNFAI community. As part of its tangible legacy, a reference library was also assembled with books on gynecology and alternative healing, alongside a self-published booklet in which the group reflected on their relationship to stress, pain, fatigue, and pleasure.

The impact of this residency was evident not only in the resources produced but also in the strengthened sense of belonging and collaboration among participants. Artistic and natural tools were transformed into sustainable care practices, while the collective process fostered an intimate shared space in which art became a vehicle for healing, listening, and mutual recognition.

Note: References to Ana Mendieta’s body-as-territory work served as a conceptual foundation for the residency’s artistic approach.