The iconic work from his Sarcofagi series, "Sarcophagi No # 3", has been acquired by the National Museum of the Banco de la República.
The SARCOPHAGI or CHRYSALIDS, which are founded in an iconography based on mythology, have long been a source of fascination, particularly for ancient excequial practices. The myths depicted on them are often the same ones used to adorn homes and public spaces, but they can take on different meanings when viewed in an artistic context, especially when created by Luis Fernando Zapata. Images taken in his studio show him constructing chrysalides — cocoons that would house his physical self during the transition to the next dimension.
Many legends and myths are associated with such a process. Still, only one emerges from the symbolic metaphors of Zapata's art: that of a man's ambivalence and courage as he grapples with his own mortality and anticipates a more enriching spiritual experience. Each chrysalis contains a profound story of its spiritual intention, to be the eternal resting place of those within. They invite quiet contemplation, knowing they hold the promise of an existence beyond our own.
Our minds wander until they rest in the equanimity of our spiritual calm.
June 15, 2025
