Anna Zorina Gallery is pleased to announce Espíritu, Alonsa Guevara’s second solo exhibition with the Gallery. The show features the artist’s vibrant figurative paintings in conjunction with an interactive installation and her distinct mixed-media sculptures. Together, these three series elevate the overarching ceremonial aspect of her work to a new level that now invites and incorporates the viewer as an active participant in the celebration of every nuance of life.

In Espíritu, or “Spirit,” Guevara investigates the unknown force that underlies our existence and connects us all. The mystery of both life and death is celebrated with invented ceremonies. The artist paints life-sized figures of women lying on different grounds including grass, sand, earth, and water while surrounded by flora and fauna to portray regions particular to the subject, highlighting the woman’s connection to her own environment. This particular vulnerability intends to spark metaphysical questions from an intimately personal perspective.

The sculptures used in this imaginary ritual are comprised of a variety of organic materials including clay, stones, shells, seeds, pits, feathers and human hair, tying back to the people and elements featured in the paintings. Some pieces are musical instruments that represent the rhythm and cyclical nature of life. Others, like Espíritu de Fortaleza show an anthropomorphic and totemic aesthetic that both embodies a sacred object and exemplifies the varied psyches of human beings. Sculptures like Rebirth or Peace vibrate with sexuality and vitality to represent fertility and the cult of womanhood while also delving into considerations of the fruitfulness of earth. Meanwhile, the ceremonial installation is comprised of vegetation to enact a sense of connection between the viewer and nature.

Alonsa Guevara (born 1986, Rancagua, Chile) lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. She received her BFA from Catholic University of Chile in Santiago and MFA from New York Academy of Art in New York City. The artist has exhibited widely in international shows including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC; Forth Works Art, Fort Worth, Texas and Cheng Xi Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China. Awards and residencies include the Terra Foundation Residency in Giverny, France, the Michele and Timothy Barakett Scholarship, as well as the Elizabeth Greenshields Grant.