Carlos Zapata 'Nepantla'

CARLOS ZAPATA
NEPANTLA

“In the universe, there are things that
are known, and things that are unknown,
and in between them, there are doors.”
William Blake

Introduction
“Bridges are thresholds to other realities, archetypal, primal symbols
of shifting consciousness. They are passageways, conduits, and
connectors that connote transitioning, crossing borders, and
changing perspectives. Bridges span liminal spaces between worlds,
spaces I call nepantla, a Nahuatl word meaning tierra entre medio.”
Gloria E. Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza
Anima Mundi are proud to present ’Nepantla’, a solo exhibition of multi
scale sculpture and wall pieces by Carlos Zapata.
‘Nepantla’ is Nahuatl word used in Latino anthropology, social commentary,
criticism, literature and art to refer to an ‘in-between’ state. It could in
a prosaic sense refer to Zapata’s personal experience as a Colombian
artist who has been living in West Cornwall in the far west of the United
Kingdom for many years, combining his broad heritage with diasporic
experience. However more directly, for Zapata, the work has been deeply
and profoundly affected by the slow passing of one of his parents.
Through these works we are invited to meditate on the liminal aspect of
our existence, where Zapata examines the nature of life and of death by
contemplating what may exist in between. The result is a body of work
defined by hope, faith and loss which examines an interconnected state
of in-betweenness that perhaps we all occupy. A place where the journey
is of as much significance as the destination.
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Encounter
polychrome carved wood, 150 cm height
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Encounter (Alter)
polychrome carved wood, 29 x 27 cm
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Nepantla
polychrome carved wood, 29 x 27 cm
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Totem
polychrome carved wood, 160 cm height
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Deity (Alter) 1
polychrome carved wood and silver leaf, 20 x 15 cm
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Deity (Alter) 2
polychrome carved wood and silver leaf, 20 x 15 cm
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Sokushinbutsu
polychrome carved wood and silver leaf, 28 x 18 cm
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Faith
polychrome carved wood, 60 cm height
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Bow
polychrome carved wood and gold leaf, 16 cm height
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Blue Madonna
polychrome carved wood, 22 cm height
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The Keeper
polychrome carved wood, 79 cm height
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Torso
polychrome carved wood, 39 cm height
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Reflect
polychrome carved wood, 29 cm height
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Biography
Carlos Zapata’s idiosyncratic artworks deal unguardedly with many
challenging and potent themes ranging from poverty, conflict, religion and
race, yet perhaps paradoxically, the overriding characteristics of the work
are empathy and compassion.
Zapata’s singular work draws from folk and tribal art traditions from all
over the world, particulary from South America. An indigenous populous
and the trade routes and traditions that have fed it over the centuries
continue to offer a rich seam of inspiration, however many of his sculptures
have evolved from personal experience of living in a foreign land and from
hisZapata’s singular work draws from folk and tribal art traditions from all
over the world, particulary from South America. An indigenous populous
and the trade routes and traditions that have fed it over the centuries
continue to offer a rich seam of inspiration, however many of his sculptures
have evolved from personal experience of living in a foreign land and from
his home country where civil issues continue to trouble its people.
Carlos Zapata is a Colombian artist born in 1963. He currently lives near
Falmouth, Cornwall UK. Works have been exhibited internationally and are
held in numerous private collections and museums around the world.
Saint’s Head
oil on wood, 35 x 29 cm
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Published by Anima Mundi to coincide with Carlos Zapata ‘Nepantla’
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