Casey Kaplan is pleased to announce Mateo López: Círculo de Palabras (Circle of Words).
For his third solo exhibition with the gallery, the artist presents a body of work conceived of and developed in his hometown of Bogotá. Returning from New York City’s dense metropolis, which he called home for more than half a decade, López shifted his focus to the recent and distant histories of the Colombian landscape.
For López, whose practice spans drawing and sculpture to choreography and performance, the temperament of location binds disparate disciplines. Through an art-historical lens, the artist’s reverence for the traditions, symbols, and raw materials indigenous to the Andes and the Amazon informs what follows.
Drawings on paper and wall-based sculptures orbit a circular pedestal that serves as support for a sequence of objects. Functioning as the heart of the exhibition, this structure mirrors a ceremonial practice wherein communities gather around a central spiritual leader within a maloca, a communal dwelling used by indigenous peoples of the Amazon. López considers the collective intention of gaining wisdom through the recounting of ancestral histories. Wrapped around a column, this architectural element behaves as a manufactured construction that exists symbiotically with the natural world.
A single bronze hand, Argument (2020), invites the viewer to explore a sequence of eight objects that punctuate the central axis. In Wiphala (2021), the square flag representing the native peoples of the Andes is dimensionally erect with hand-painted wooden blocks. The pyramid formation echoes the structures of the ruins of Central America. Kinetic frictions also dominate in López’s work—organic material is covered in synthetic matter; industrial products are adjacent to artisanal motifs. In Totumo (Motorcycle gas tank) (2021), a gourd often used as a utensil or vessel such as a cup is rendered cavernous and covered with automotive paint.
Deepening his exploration of geographically-specific resources, this presentation marks López's first use of Yanchama, a hand-pounded bark from the Amazon. In Bosque paralelo (Parallel forest) (2020), a wall-based arrangement of six rectangular structures, López considers the positive and negative spaces that equalize in the natural landscape. Turmeric and achiote, a red powder derived from the seeds of a native achiote tree, are extracted and used as pigment in a further effort to maximize the materials at hand. The same powder coats a linen suit, as seen in Achiote Suit (2021), which hangs on the wall from a wooden dowel, ready to be worn or idolized.
A grid of drawings and collages provide a foundational backdrop. As is true for all of López’s works, the ‘line’ is the origin of every action. As the line bleeds into the three-dimensional, from paper to constructed object, López expands the scope of drawing to consider the medium in time and space as it relates to his own body. A recent series of bronze sculptures cast from his ear or fingers are composed with a grey oxide patina akin to graphite, framing the exhibition at unexpected heights that mimic the artist’s measurements.
In an infinite exchange, locale defines material, in turn informing the tools we use and how our bodies comply. Engaging an ongoing architectural device employed throughout his practice, López presents a carved wooden bench in Banco de Pensamiento (Turtle Bench) (2021). It is an homage to an artifact of a seated thinker, whose meditative state is defined by one’s posture. A photograph of the bench in situ echoes. As the stool jumps off the wall and into space, the body flexes to adapt.
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Little fire (Right arm bones)
2017
Bronze cast
3 x 12 x 12” / 7.6 x 30.5 x 30.5cm
Little fire (Right arm bones), 2017 (detail)
Nightstand (Femme Maison)
2021
Laser cut MDF, vinyl paint
15.35 x 13.39 x 17.72” / 39 x 34 x 45cm
Nightstand (Femme Maison), 2021 (alternate view)
Samara
2021
Handmade leather sphere, gold ink on paper, metal
Sphere: 11.81 x 11.81 x 11.81” / 30 x 30 x 30cm
Stand: 5 x 7.75” / 12.7 x 19.7cm
Installation: 25 x 25 x 11.5” / 63.5 x 63.5 x 29.2cm
Samara, 2021 (detail)
Samara, 2021 (alternate view)
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Centipede
2021
Plastic chess pawns, pliers, metal
3.94 x 44.88 x 5.12” / 10 x 114 x 13cm
Centipede, 2021 (alternate view)
Palabras agudas
2020
Bronze cast, patina, red pencil
Bronze: 4.13 x 4 x 6” / 10.5 x 10.2 x 15.2cm
Pencil: 6 x .25” / 15.2 x .6cm
Edition 3 of 3, 1 AP
Palabras agudas, 2020 (alternate view)
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Wiphala
2021
Balsa wood, vinyl paint
Cube: 1.97 x 1.97 x 1.97” / 5 x 5 x 5cm each
Installation: 11.81 x 27.56 x 27.56” / 30 x 70 x 70cm
Wiphala, 2021 (detail)
Totumo (Motorcycle gas tank)
2021
Gourd, automotive paint, metal
7.87 x 19.69 x 7.87” / 20 x 50 x 20cm
Totumo (Motorcycle gas tank), 2021 (detail)
Orbit
2021
Wheat straw hat, ping pong ball, colored pencil
5.12 x 14.57 x 15.75” / 13 x 37 x 40cm
Orbit, 2021 (detail)
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Chonta (Serpent)
2021
Chonta palm wood, thermometer
23.62 x 22.44 x 5.91” / 60 x 57 x 15cm
Chonta (Serpent), 2021 (alternate view)
Chonta (Serpent), 2021 (detail)
Parabola
2020/2022
Bronze cast, patina, folding carpenter’s ruler, ink and paper
Bronze cast: 3 x 4 x 3” / 7.6 x 10.2 x 7.6cm
Ruler: 72 x 0.63 x 0.13” / 182.9 x 1.6 x 0.3cm
Butterfly: 2.5 x 3.5” / 6.4 x 8.9cm
Installation: 72.25 x 29 x 4” / 125.7 x 73.7 x 10.2cm
(placement of bronze cast equivalent to the artist’s measurements at 61.25” / 155.6cm)
Parabola, 2020/2022 (detail)
Parabola, 2020/2022 (alternate view)
Achiote Suit
2021
Linen, achiote paint, hanger
63.25 x 25.25 x 4.25” / 160.7 x 64.1 x 10.8cm
Achiote Suit, 2021 (detail)
Achiote Suit, 2021 (alternate view)
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Banco de Pensamiento Tortuga (Turtle Bench)
2021
Carved wood, print
Bench: 16.93 x 14.17 x 14.17” / 43 x 36 x 36cm Print: 47.13 x 31.38” / 119.7 x 79.7cm
Installation: 68.25 x 45 x 31.25” / 173.4 x 114.3 x 79.4cm
Banco de Pensamiento Tortuga (Turtle Bench), 2021 (alternate view)
Banco de Pensamiento Tortuga (Turtle Bench), 2021 (detail)
Red Line (Linea roja)
2020
Bronze cast, patina, red thread
Bronze cast: 0.75 x 2 x 2.5” / 1.9 x 5.1 x 6.4cm each
Installation equivalent to the artist’s height and wingspan
Corner installation: 62 x 65 x 31” / 157.5 x 165.1 x 78.7cm
Linear installation: 62 x 65 x 2.5” / 157.5 x 165.1 x 6.4cm
Edition 1 of 3, 1 AP
Red Line (Linea roja), 2020 (detail)
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Argument
2020
Bronze cast, patina, and coca leaf
2.5 x 1.75 x 6.25” / 6.35 x 4.5 x 15.9cm
Installation: 41.25 x 1.75 x 6.25” / 104.8 x 4.5 x 15.9cm (equivalent to the artist’s measurements)
Edition 1 of 3, 1 AP
Argument, 2020 (alternate view)
Argument, 2020 (alternate view)
Woodpecker
2020
Bronze cast, patina, red pencil
Bronze cast: 2.75 x 1.74 x 1” / 6.99 x 4.4 x 2.5cm
Pencil: 5.75 x .25” / 14.6 x .6cm
Installation: 63.25 x 3.75 x 1” / 14.6 x 9.5 x 2.5cm (equivalent to the artist’s height)
Edition 1 of 3, 1 AP
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Bosque paralelo (Parallel forest)
2020
Yanchama bark, turmeric and achiote pigments, wood
Panel: 16.34 x 14.37 x 1.58” / 41.5 x 36.5 x 4cm each
Installation: 51.78 x 45.78 x 1.58” / 131.5 x 116.3 x 4cm
Bosque paralelo (Parallel forest), 2020 (alternate view)
Bosque paralelo (Parallel forest), 2020 (detail)
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Installation view: Mateo López, Círculo de Palabras, Casey Kaplan, New York, 2022
Aurora
2021
Gouache and ink on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Owl
2021
Ink, graphite and grommets on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Honeycomb
2021
Gouache and ink on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Centipede
2021
Gouache and ink on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Mask II (parrots)
2021
Gouache, ink, corn, waxed thread
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Mask II (parrots), 2021 (detail)
Pre-Colombian Landscape
2021
Gouache on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Bats
2021
Gouache and ink on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
School of Fish
2021
Ink on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Dew
2021
Gouache, ink and pearls on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Dew, 2021 (detail)
Mask I (with hands)
2021
Gouache, ink and waxed thread on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Quimbaya
2021
Gouache and a 200 pesos coin on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Oxalis
2021
Gouache on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Web
2021
Gouache and buttons on paper
15 x 12 x 0.13” / 38.1 x 30.5 x 0.3cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Chontaduro
2021
Gouache and ink on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Untitled (sim cards)
2021
Gouache, ink and used sim cards on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Emberá Triangles
2021
Gouache, ink and tagua nuts on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Music Score
2021
Ink on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
Rana Dorada (Golden Frog)
2021
Gouache and thread on paper
15 x 12” / 38.1 x 30.5cm
Framed: 17.25 x 14.25 x 1.5” / 43.8 x 36.2 x 3.8cm
