Bolivian artist Kenia Almaraz Murillo exhibits at Boulakia Gallery in London

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Thursday, March 28, 2024


Bolivian artist Kenia Almaraz Murillo exhibits at Boulakia Gallery in London
Niña del Volcán. Tissage en alpaga et laine locale acrylique, coton, bambous, tullmas, néon led et barres d'acier inoxydable, 127 cm x 126 cm. 2022 ©Robin Ansart.



LONDON.- From April 21st to May 10th 2022, the exhibition “Le Temps de l’Eclipse”, at 41 Dover Street, London, presents Kenia Almaraz Murillo’s weavings and sculptures. The exhibition “Le Temps de l’Eclipse” was born from the father-daughter collaboration between Daniel and Annabelle Cohen-Boulakia, who share in their desire to present Kenia Almaraz Murillo’s work in London. Discovered in 2018 by Annabelle, Kenia, a Bolivian artist who graduated from the Beaux-Arts de Paris, was exhibited in November 2019 at Galerie Boulakia for her first solo show “Tisser la Lumière du Temps”.

Born in 1994 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Kenia arrived in Paris when she was only 11 years old. Upon graduating, she joined the artistic incubator “Poush Manifesto”, where her stu- dio is now located. “Le Temps de l’Eclipse” highlights the evolution of style, technique, and ins- piration of this young Bolivian artist. Kenia’s first weavings evoke her ancestral South American origins by integrating natural elements from Bolivia such as wool yarn, bamboo, or alpaca fibre. The use of these raw materials is reflective of her ethnic background. The artist is continuously inspired by mystical and totemic signs, which refer to primitive societies. The colours of her weavings echo the brightly coloured birds of paradise that inhabit the Amazonian forest. For example, in “Niña del Volcán”, Kenia refers to the Peruvian bird “Tunqui”, whose feathers and legs recall the yellow and purple weft of the wool. The artist also includes in this piece “Tull- mas”, traditional pompoms, worn during Oruro’s Carnival.

Her almost obsessive dedication to tracing Bolivian myths and origins serves as the primary source of inspiration behind her original artistic aesthetic. South American culture is the foun- ding pillar of Kenia Almaraz Murillo’s creation. Fascinated by the power of the stars, the artist tries to transcribe light into her weavings. First, she chose to use LED and plastic, allowing her to create a game of transparen- cy. More recently, the integration of neon in her weaving process saw a new challenge for Kenia, recalling both the power of her Andean origins as well as her bond to Western Culture.

Simultaneously, Kenia develops her sculptures, which lie close to the kinetic movement. She integrates different materials such as oak, neon, LED, and Plexiglas, in addition to traditional wool. A new way for the artist to explore the properties of light. In an exploration of silkscreen, the artist explores the properties of light in a new way, mixing paint with wool and alpaca threads, creating a visual illusion similar to that of an eclipse.

Since joining POUSH in September 2020, Kenia’s artistic style has continued to evolve. Her creativity is increasingly influenced by her urban Parisian backgroung. Kenia, although strong in her Bolivian origins, was largely raised in France. Unconsciously, her Western origins, long masked by the power of her South American roots, are now an integral part of her creation. The artist is increasingly concerned with the environment and object’s cyclical existence, such as car or motorbike headlights, which she reuses in her new works, like “Wawita”. The poly- chrome power of the headlights extends the initial work of light. The once vivid and natural colours of the weavings give way to vibrant and electric tones, which can be found in “Tarabuco”.

Her studio, located in a disused building in the suburbs of Paris, serves as a symbol of her hybrid cultural background. From her window, the Sacré Coeur overlooks the busy and noisy ring road. Inside her creative space, plants and fishes arranged by the artist, warm the coldness of the walls. In this urban jungle, an Aubusson loom dominates, where Kenia creates a dialogue between her an- cestral South American origins and the Western world. She is constantly seeking a balance between nature and the imprint of Man.

The rediscovered link between her Bolivian and Western origins is today the main axis of Kenia’s inspiration. She is at the same time filled by South American myths and legends that she constantly transmits in her works through personal and family elements (such as hair or traditional elements), but also with urban trends, which she explores through recycled objects. Car headlights now illu- minate as much as an astral myth in Kenia’s weavings. The urban becomes sacred.










Today's News

April 21, 2022

Venice Biennale: Attacking Mexico, with Mexico's approval

Austrian avant-garde artist Hermann Nitsch dies at 83

Monet masterpiece will highlight the 20th Century Evening Sale in New York

Christie's announces 'Old Masters: Drawings, Paintings, Sculptures sale on 18 May

Modern and contemporary art will be the focus of Dorotheum's major auction week from 31 May to 2 June

Carpenters Workshop Gallery presents 'The Female Voice in Modern Design, 1950-2000'

Collection of Claude "Henry" Withers & John Baldwin Trust drive Hindman Native American Art Auction to over $1.1 million

Prints by Picasso, Warhol, Basquiat bring record prices at Heritage Auctions

Artis-Naples announces gift of Pam Longobardi's Swerve to the Baker Museum permanent collection

A 'product of colonialism' represents France at the Venice Biennale

Fondazione In Between Art Film presents 'Penumbra' in Venice

An immersive show taps 'an oracle' for a spin on Greek myth

The wolf of crypto

A nonbinary swan, on pointe

Haviv Kaptzon is the 2022 recipient of the Keshet Award

Sleeping beauty Mercedes 190 SL awake after 45 years

Opening this week At Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art: Shinique Smith, STARGAZERS

Bolivian artist Kenia Almaraz Murillo exhibits at Boulakia Gallery in London

Heritage Auctions offers NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott's collection in May to benefit his Bay Area nonprofit

Maya Lin's ecologically focused work on view in exclusive exhibition at Virginia MOCA

Estonia's exhibition for La Biennale di Venezia opens in the Rietveld Pavilion in the Giardini della Biennale

Radu Lupu, pianist who awed listeners, dies at 76

Christie's and amfAR present 'From the Studio to Benefit amfAR'

Greek coins fetch strong prices in Dix Noonan Webb's Sale of Ancient and Islamic Coins and Antiquities

Three Art Museums That You Should Visit in New York If You Love Art & Design

Daddy Daycare: Eddie Murphy's Signal that Western Civilization is About to End




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful