About Salvaje

Salvaje is a word that has historically been used in a derogatory way to refer to Indigenous peoples of Latin America. I chose it consciously as a form of reclaiming the term with irony, humour, and pride. To me, it means freedom and instinct.

This project was born out of a personal need: to reconnect with joy through handmade work. I was looking for something tactile that I could improvise with (I could have stuck to baking, but I was running away from precision). The fact that it turned out to be jewellery came at a time of an accessories crisis that made me think: if I'm going to wear something, it should be not only something I like, but something that represents me. And I've been told all my life that I have a lot of character — since I've decided to take it as a compliment, I've never been better at making the most of that phrase.

That's my approach to the concept. Experimental but with character: each piece is unique, made with polymer clay in an intuitive, almost improvised way, embracing colour, contrast, and imperfection, while resisting the logic of mass production. Personally, Salvaje is also an emotional practice: an exercise in unlearning perfectionism, surrendering to the process, and practising detachment.

I'm Mara Garcia, a Venezuelan based in Granada, with a background in performing arts, photography, graphic design, and short film programming. Salvaje is a personal project open to growth. I have been working on it since 2022.