Evely, Peru

Maja de Lima 

Overcoming cancer was a rebirth — an awakening that pushed me to leave behind fears and excuses, and to truly live.
Before, I always found reasons to postpone my dreams. But facing that illness gave me the strength and clarity to finally do what my soul had always wanted. It felt as if adversity had gifted me a second chance to be loyal to myself.

In that context, I decided to explore sculpture — a discipline that allowed me to channel deep emotions and transform them into art.

After creating several pieces, I felt the need to immortalize what cancer meant to me. That inspiration gave birth to a sculpture that represents a female torso, crafted in transparent resin to capture both the vulnerability and the strength that coexisted throughout my journey. The torso has a transversal cut across the chest, like an open scar, symbolizing not only physical wounds but also the emotional marks and lessons left behind.

Through that cut, the interior reveals a metallic shine of golden shavings — a symbol of the light I found in the midst of darkness, of how painful experiences can transform into beauty and growth.

This sculpture is not only a tribute to my personal battle, but also an invitation to recognize the power we have to rebuild ourselves from our scars.