Carlos Nicanor: The Skein of the Soul

The Skein of the Soul offers a profound exploration of the human essence through Carlos Nicanor's interactive installation, sculptures, and drawings. A self-referential show, it marks a significant milestone in his career — a heartfelt testimony of the artist's journey, bringing his vibrant works from Tenerife to the U.S. for the very first time. Nicanor, a sculptor from the Canary Islands, blends the surrealist legacy of André Breton, the Dadaist movement, and Joseph Kosuth's word-object concept with the rich heritage of Canarian artisans. His work defies the physical limitations of materials, transforming wood, metal, threads, and paper into almost impossibly smooth, organic, and autonomous forms. His sculptures challenge both the physics of the materials and human sensitivity, reminding us that art is born from the handmade, evolving at a pace distinct from contemporary life. The artist's work is a testament to the duality of form and word, using irony and sarcasm as playful yet profound tools. Installations such as Icor (2020) transform spaces into mythological realms, engaging viewers physically and intellectually. They invite the public to penetrate that swarm of threads turned into arteries — the metaphor of penetrating the human body viscerally, reading it from the inside, rediscovering it from its bone, soul, and poetry. Curated by Greisa Gutiérrez and Claudia Taboada.