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Traver Gallery is proud to present Microcosmos, an exhibition of new works by Einar and Jamex de la Torre. Microcosmos delves deep into the cultural dogmas of pre-Hispanic Aztec gods, the iconography of the Roman Catholic Church, and the rigid structures of North American Protestantism. Irreverent yet poignant, this body of work exposes the charged dichotomy of a life lived along either side of the Mexican and American border.

 

Inspired by the Baroque aesthetic of seventeenth century Spanish-Mexican colonial art, the de la Torres' use excess, pomp, and at times, vulgarity to fearlessly address the overwhelming commercialism of modern society and the terse relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. With their sculptures and installations they challenge the preconceptions of what constitutes "traditional" Mexican art and culture by employing elements of Pop Art, Assemblage Art, and contemporary kitsch; Einar and Jamex cover the surface of every sculpture with decals, dollar store items, globs of glass, metal, and various other found objects.

 

Using symbols as vocabulary, each piece tells the story of a changing vernacular. With an interest in overlapping and increasingly intertwined national identities, the de la Torres select each object for its symbolic meaning - some represent traditional icons, others represent a newly acquired meaning within the cultural vernacular. The vocabulary of symbols that the de la Torre brothers employ transcends region, race, and stereotypes, instead pointing to a larger ever-in-flux, cross-border culture. The potently layered icons and symbols create an opulent amalgam of cultural meaning resulting in a body of work that simultaneously enchants and repels - eliciting curiosity and satiating our needs for the grotesque and the beautiful.

 

Currently, the de la Torres live and work on both sides of the border between San Diego and the Baja peninsula. They enjoy a bi-national life style that very much informs their art. Einar and Jamex de la Torre have worked, taught and exhibited both nationally and internationally. Their work is currently on view at the San Jose Museum of Art and, in September 2012, the brothers will open an exhibition at the Chrysler Museum of Art. The de la Torres' distinctive three-dimensional work can be found in galleries, museum collections, museum catalogs, as well as in various public art installations.