Guayaquil is reflecting on its connection to the earth, memory, and the processes that shape identity through the exhibition 'Returning to the Origin,' celebrating the 50-year artistic career of the Guayaquil-born artist, archaeologist, and museologist Mariella García Caputi. The exhibition is hosted at the Piece of Cake Gallery in Moderna Plaza and will remain open to the public until February 22. It features approximately 25 to 26 artworks created between 1974 and 2020, offering a chronological and conceptual journey through the artist's pictorial evolution.

The collection encompasses a variety of artistic mediums, including oils, tempura, mixed techniques, collage, and reliefs, which not only demonstrate formal and technical changes but also reflect the social, cultural, and personal transformations that García Caputi has experienced throughout her life and career. Since the mid-1970s, when she began her artistic journey, the Ecuadorian art scene posed numerous challenges, particularly for women artists. These obstacles are integral to understanding her work, as they shape the narrative of resilience and creativity in her artistic expression.

The exhibition not only showcases García Caputi's extensive body of work but also invites dialogue about identity, culture, and the role of female artists in Ecuadorian society. By revisiting her artistic milestones, 'Returning to the Origin' serves as a vital cultural commentary that underscores the importance of female contributions to the arts within a historical context, ultimately enriching the understanding of contemporary Ecuadorian art and its evolution.