“In Front of the Lake” Guatemalan Antonio Pichillá’s first solo-exhibition in Europe
Kukulkan (i), 2022, Handcrafted textile, mercerised threads and sedalina, 115 x 84 cm. Photo: Birgitta Huse
“The artist of Mayan Tz’utujil origin refers to his indigenous culture’s traditions and his connection with nature.”
“If you are interested in enjoying unusual and inspiring textile art from Guatemala and if you want to expand your ability to move more knowledgeable and elegantly in the field of “ethnic art”, “non-ethnic art”, “Latin American art” or simply “art” you should definitely not miss this exhibition.”
“In Front of the Lake” : Guatemalan Antonio Pichillá’s first solo-exhibition in Europe
at Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery until 25.11.2023
★★★★★
WRITTEN BY DR BIRGITTA HUSE, 18.11.2023
The artworks by Antonio Pichillá do not only present themselves on the white walls of the Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery in London. A large textile hangs from the ceiling. It is made from various white and red pieces which were woven on a traditional backstrap loom. The yellow stripe on this textile’s surface meanders from bottom to top and reminds of a snake as the artwork is moving with a breeze of someone passing. Some rocks with textiles in the centre of the room lead the gaze into yet another direction.
“In front of the lake” is Antonio Pichillá’s first solo exhibition in Europe following group shows in Paris, Berlin and Madrid. His works are part of the permanent collections of Tate Modern, London, and Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, and several more collections in Europe and throughout America. In Hong Kong he showed his art at Para Site.
The artist of Mayan Tz’utujil origin refers to his indigenous culture’s traditions and his connection with nature. He was born, lives and works in San Pedro La Laguna at Lake Atitlán. Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery says: “Examining the ancient culture of his native Tz’utujil heritage and the postcolonial notion of a homogenous national identity, Pichillá’s works are an act of resistance to otherness and binary constructions of identity. Instead, his work celebrates the heterogeneity of everyday contemporary Tz’utujil life.”
Grandmother (i), 2023, Mercerised threads and maguey fibre, 150 x 70 x 15 cm. Photo: Birgitta Huse
With his series titled Grandmother and Grandfather and other works like Kukulkan, Wind, La Piedra De Sol (The Sun Stone), Espantapajaro (Scarecrow) and the Weaving the Landscape video Pichillá wants to inspire others “to delve deeper” into what is really important in life, namely the relationship with other human beings as well as with nature. He considers the asking of questions about one’s own heritage and identity to be important in the first place.
If you are interested in enjoying unusual and inspiring textile art from Guatemala and if you want to expand your ability to move more knowledgeable and elegantly in the field of “ethnic art”, “non-ethnic art”, “Latin American art” or simply “art” you should definitely not miss this exhibition.
Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery until Saturday 25 November 2023. Open Wednesday through to Saturday 12-6 pm or by appointment. For more visit: www.elizabethxibauer.com
Weaving the Landscape, 2020, Video mp4, 6:00 min, Edition 5 + 1 AP
Exhibition view. Photo: Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery