RUMANTSCH 

There are countries that remain within us long after we have left them behind.
For me, Switzerland is one of them.

I was born in the French-speaking part of the country and spent a large part of my life there. Over time, I realized that the Swiss white cross had been engraved in my heart far more deeply than I had ever imagined.

RUMANTSCH is the first work in a new series dedicated to countries, their transformations, their invisible memories, and the marks that time leaves upon them.

The Swiss flag appears eroded, weathered, and altered through layers of material, abrasion, and oxidation. Not as an act of destruction, but as happens with everything that truly lives: surfaces evolve, transform, and preserve the memory of time.

Along the right edge of the painting, four eroded lines emerge almost invisibly. Their proportions correspond to the population speaking Switzerland’s four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Their varying lengths quietly transform the flag into a linguistic cartography. The smallest line — nearly imperceptible — represents Rumantsch, an ancient and discreet language that still survives and gives the work its title.

I chose this name because I am deeply moved by the idea that even what appears fragile or minor still holds an essential place within a collective identity.

This work was created with affection, respect, and gratitude toward a country that profoundly shaped me. A country where different cultures, languages, and sensibilities have learned to coexist within the same symbol.

Because erosion does not mean destruction.
Sometimes it means revealing.

The white cross remains.
Perhaps different.
Perhaps marked by time.
But still deeply alive.

• Size: 50 cm x 50 cm x 1.5 cm
• Acrylic on canvas, mixed media, erosion poetry
• Signed on the back / Sergio Aranda
• Painted edges
• Protected with multiple coats of varnish
• Certificate of Authenticity included
• FREE worldwide shipping
• Year: 2026