PEPE LÓPEZ EXPLORES HOW CULTURAL IDENTITY EVOLVES IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD
Dot Fiftyone Gallery presents Guapísimas: A Personal Journey Through Cultural Exchange and Transformation, a solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Pepe López; this thought-provoking showcase delves into the complexities of cultural syncretism, exploring the intersection of tradition and modernity in a globalized world.
At the center of the exhibition is López’s Guapísimas Installation (2025), featuring reimagined baskets originally woven by Indigenous artisans from Venezuela's Amazon region. Using hand-painting and embroidery techniques developed in his Paris studio and during a summer residency at El Espacio 23 in Miami, López transforms these objects into powerful symbols of cultural exchange.
The Guapísimas series, which López began in 2004, reflects his journey to learn and honor Indigenous basket-weaving traditions. Over time, it evolved into an exploration of the broader cultural shifts affecting these communities. The artist captures the tension between ancient practices and the forces of globalization, revealing how Western consumerism is reshaping identities and traditions.
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Pepe López. Golliat, 5000. Acrylic and wool embroidery on a structure broken Amazonian basket, 37 × 17 × 36 in | 94 × 43.2 × 91.4 cm. Courtesý of Dot Fiftyone Gallery
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Pepe López. Goku, 2023. Acrylic, wool and wire cable embroidery on Amazonian basket, 32 × 31 × 4 in | 81.3 × 78.7 × 10.2 cm. Courtesý of Dot Fiftyone Gallery
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Pepe López. Picachu No Shitai, 2024. Acrylic and wool embroidery on a structure broken on Amazonian basket with Stuffed toy, 24 × 17 × 17 in | 61 × 43.2 × 43.2 cm. Courtesý of Dot Fiftyone Gallery
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Pepe López. From the Garden of Broken Things, 2014-2022. Courtesy of Dot Fiftyone Gallery
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Pepe López. Thread of Fate, 2004-2025. Acrylic and wool embroidery on Amazonian basket installation on acrylic drywall, comprising 24 elements, 116 × 235 × 8 in | 294.6 × 596.9 × 20.3 cm. Courtesý of Dot Fiftyone Gallery
The exhibition includes a large-scale floor painting of the Orinoco River and its tributaries, along with three sound pieces by musician Miguel La Corte. Titled Pseudo Ecologies, the compositions use insect stridulations to create immersive sonic experiences inspired by Amazonian ecologies.
By juxtaposing Indigenous craft with global cultural references, such as Dragon Ball Z murals and Western consumer goods, López’s work invites reflection on how cultural identities evolve. His Guapísimas series becomes a narrative of transformation, balancing preservation with the inevitability of change.
Pepe López is a Venezuelan artist whose work spans installations, painting, performance, and sculpture. His art addresses themes such as identity, consumerism, and environmental sustainability, often using found materials to create "urban sculptures." López has exhibited internationally, including at the 8th Havana Biennial, the Mercosur Biennial, and the MAD Museum in NYC.
Guapísimas is on view until March 23, 2025, at Dot Fiftyone Gallery, 7275 NE 4th Ave, Miami (United States).
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