Paper Sculptures by Roberto Benavidez Reenvision Common Birds and Fantastical Creatures as Metallic Piñatas
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‘”Javelina Woman (Illumianted Piñata No. 14).” All photographs © Roberto Benavidez, shared with permission
Without delay fantastically imaginative and embedded in custom, the shimmering piñatas that comprise Roberto Benavidez’s physique of labor broaden the boundaries of the conventionally festive object. The Los Angeles-based artist (beforehand) cuts skinny, triangular strips of fabric that he attaches to paper mache types within the form of birds, hybrid animals, and otherworldly creatures. His metallic works usually deal with questions of id—the artist speaks about this additional in a Colossal interview—significantly concerns of gender and sexuality via the lens of his layered types.
Benavidez’s gynandromorphs collection, for instance, reenvisions the phenomenon in widespread chicken species by splicing female and male our bodies collectively right into a mirrored sculpture—three of those items can be on view via June 14 at The Loft at Liz’s in Los Angeles. He’s additionally persevering with his renditions of Hieronymous Bosch characters and illuminated manuscripts, the latter of which incorporates the polka-dotted wildcat and portly, tusked “Javelina Woman” proven above. Whereas drawing on centuries-old works, narratives, and myths in these collection, every piñata is the artist’s reinterpretation of the basic iconography and themes into an ingenious, modern kind.
Within the coming months, a couple of of Benavidez’s birds can be on view at Heron Arts, and the group exhibition dedicated to piñatas that opened final fall at Craft in America can be touring to the Mingei International Museum in San Diego. Comply with information about upcoming alternatives to see his sculptures in particular person on Instagram.
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“Illuminated Piñata No. 19”
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“Scarlet Shiny Ibis (Halfbreed No. 1)”
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“Noticed Wildcat Piñata (Illuminated Piñata No. 17)”
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“Pug on Pig”
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“Gynandromorph Phainopepla”
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“Oyster or Snail? (Birdr No. 1)”
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Element of ‘”Javelina Woman (Illumianted Piñata No. 14)”
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“California Quail”
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