Cristobal Aldana

Cristobal Aldana is a Bolivian sculptor. Originally from Potosi, he moved to Cochabamba at an early age where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. He credits his father, a potter, with instilling in him a love for creating tridimensional objects, because as a child he helped him with the manufacture of pots and jars. Prior to entering the academy of fine arts in Cochabamba, he was already a highly proficient stone sculptor, since he had worked from his early teenage years first as an apprentice stonemason, and later as a master stonemason and carver for construction projects. Aldana is not only widely known for his sculptures but has earned a reputation for his participation in major architectural projects involving stone, like the construction of the cathedral in the town of Aiquile and the restoration of a colonial church in the village of Totora. He has exhibited his sculptures at all major plastic art venues in Bolivia and is widely recognized as an influential figure for the new generation of Bolivian sculptors. His pieces often combine different stones or aim at exposing and exploiting the textures of the stones he uses, often playing with intricate folds and twists. These approaches give the viewer an idea of movement and lightness in an otherwise heavy material. He is also known as “Rumiruna”, which in the native Quechua language means “man made out of stone”.