Carlos Estevez
born 1969, Cuba
Charlotte, North Carolina – Latin American Contemporary Art (LaCa) Projects is pleased to present Transeúntes (Transients), an exhibition of new work by Miami-based artist, Carlos Estévez (Cuba). This will be the artist’s second solo exhibition with the gallery.
The recent work of Carlos Estévez explores the subtle dynamics of human interactions and the concept that life is in a permanent state of transience. The origins of the work began in the spring of 2016, when Estévez was in residence at the McColl Center for Art + Innovation in Charlotte, North Carolina, and continued later that summer during his residency at the Brownstone Foundation in Paris, France. Fascinated with the teaming energy of urban life in Paris, Estévez regularly visited the Place des Vosges to observe the interactions of people as individuals and as groups. Transients captures an important period of Estévez’s transition into a highly personal abstract visual language.
Dream Ballet, a series within the Transients body of work, is a fantasy about a ballet where ballerinas are developing their individual performances as soloists. Another series, Wind Quintet, is inspired by the music of the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla, “Ritual Fire Dance” (a movement for the ballet, “The Bewitched Love”). Estévez listened to the music while drawing these characters, and the musicians are depicted in a metamorphosis where they fuse with the instruments while they are playing. Finally, String Septet is inspired by the Beethoven septet in E-flat Major, Op 20. For this series, Estévez submerged into the same experience of Wind Quintet, letting the music lead the lines.
A public opening celebration with the artist will take place at LaCa Projects on Thursday, January 18 from 6 – 8 PM. In honor of the lyrical series in Transients, LaCa Projects will host a performance by the Charlotte Ballet and musicians from the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
A full-color catalogue will accompany the exhibition. An artist talk and book signing will take place at LaCa Projects on Saturday, January 20 at 10:30 AM. For more information or to reserve a catalogue (limited quantity available), please e-mail info@lacaprojects.com.
The gallery will also be celebrating the grand opening of Basal Coffee, the new café at LaCa Projects, in conjunction with the public opening for Transients. These events will be the first of many that will be scheduled throughout 2018 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of LaCa Projects.
