mazchenik

Alvarez Echenique's body of work to date presents unusual perspectives on humanity's complex relationship with surrounding environments, both 'natural' and 'man made'.
The pieces have a dreamlike quality; influences among others, coming from the 20th century Surrealist movement, earlier European Romantic traditions, world folk art & even aspects of science fiction.
The works take the viewer on a journey into a world where the fusion of the natural and the human sometimes seems to be in harmony and respect, and other times appears to be wilder and darker.
In her recent angel pieces, influenced by an overgrown Victorian cemetery (Abney Park), the abundant growth of nature can seem as spiritual as the representations of Angels.
A combination of casting and hand-building techniques using porcelain are characteristic of her sculptural work. Exploring the potential of different materials and techniques the pieces become vivid and unique images which call into question many of our preconceptions about porcelain, craft and even beauty.