Bóveda celeste

It’s hard to tell
where Heaven stops
and Earth begins

Hesitant, you reach a finger
Touch the arching skies

How ethereal and enveloping
this milky veil is

Cielos en picado

In Santa Clara del Cobre
local markets glisten
copper plates, vessels,
goblets, jewelry
Hammered and sculpted

During lightning storms
the high conductivity of copper
attracts electrical discharges
Plummeting skies
Thunderbolts penetrate the ground
scattered arborescence

In Santa Clara del Cobre
mountains overflow with cupric metal

Vigilante Nocturno


Derived from indigenous Nahuatl dialect, the word tepetlapa evokes the rocky landscape of Tepoztlán, México. Driving to Santiago Tepetlapa, you are greeted by a sign that reads “El cerro del vigilante nocturno” – which translates as the “Hill of the Nocturnal Watchman”.


The artistic duo Celeste’s name originated from depictions of celestial bodies floating above the horizon line. They now turn their gaze earthbound from their heavenly station. Representations of elongated fingers illustrate meticulous gestures like foraging, digging, squeezing, holding, or caressing. On the fleshy womblike surfaces, a predominance of ochres opens to earthy tones of browns, grays, and greens. This colour pallet stems from explorations with organic matters such as turmeric, avocado, and lemon. These telluric incarnations extend to their sculptures, which arise from the craftsmanship of Santa Clara del Cobre and the abundance of copper buried in the soil.


Perched on a hill, Celeste and El Vigilante Nocturno watch over our terrestrial everyday life. Their aerial presence glides over our heads, a ronde de nuit under the moonlight.