Bosco Sodi

The Hilario Galguera Gallery presents the solo exhibition by Bosco Sodi (Mexico, 1970) Alabanzas.

The exhibition includes a selection of pictorial and sculptural pieces, together with his most recent work; an assembly of 8 bags and 3 golden spheres presented in the main room of the gallery. The works made in burlap sacks using gold leaf as a pigment are presented for the first time, as are the clay spheres covered with gold leaf, in which each of the circles is related to the proportions of the spheres in the assembly, resulting in the creation of a harmonic space, from the spatial geometry that is generated between the dialogue of the pieces.

Alabanzas analyzes the essence of our human condition, acknowledging our earthly bond, but at the same time, exalting everything that is sacred. The pieces by themselves present their own energy, a gravitational force that communicates with the viewer, evoking the unbreakable bond we have with our environment. The tour of the exhibition begins with an organic atmosphere, worshiping and paying tribute to nature, while the golden pieces stand out, recognizing the spirituality that has accompanied us since ancient times, in a quasi-religious manifestation.

In his work, Sodi seeks to exalt the expression of materials, embracing imperfection, the unpredictable, and the lack of control that comes with the autonomy of nature, a reflection of existential veracity. His emblematic paintings are created by hand-placing a mixture of pigment, sawdust, glue and water on canvas, which in the drying process takes on its own shape, independently creating cracks and additional textures. The lines between painting and sculpture begin to fade, the corporeality of the pieces coming to life in their dimension, which are finished with a heartbreaking gesture created by the artist, reminiscent of Lucio Fontana's actions to transform pictorial space. Sodi manages to represent the human presence within works that seem to have been created by nature itself and at the same time opens the way to the depth of painting.

The artist recognizes clay as an element that creates a universal link, a material that has been a fundamental part of all civilizations, accompanying human beings in their evolution. This historical representation of the material is complemented by the philosophical and art historical aspects that have influenced Bosco Sodi's practice, such as the Japanese tradition of wabi-sabi (which values impermanence and imperfection) and arte povera in Italy, to name a few. Resulting in an epitome of the unbreakable essence that has accompanied the human being up to the present day.

Alabanzas is the fourth individual exhibition of Bosco Sodi at the Hilario Galguera Gallery, exhibiting for the first time with Hilario Galguera in 2011. The exhibition coincides with the inauguration of Sodi's new studio, which also opens its doors on Tuesday, February 7 in Ciudad de Mexico. Designed by Alberto Kalach, the studio is yet another extension of Casa Wabi- the artist residence and home of Sodi's art studio on the Oaxacan coast near Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.

— Galería Hilario Galguera