Alejandra Prieto

This Side of Paradise

Alejandro Prieto takes organic materials – in this case coal – and turns them into objects from the world of everyday use causing an ironic reinterpretation of both the constructive material and the represented object. The precarious, dangerous, and exploitive conditions involved in coal extraction might be linked in these “gloves “ to the sweat -shop labor of garment production, both forms of “work” intended for a consumer whose concern is only comfort and luxury. In her skillful reworking of coal into leather gloves, however, yet another rarefied and desired commodity is created – the artwork.