Pachamamita

In this large-format piece, Harry Chavez uses synthetic gems, plastic beads, and decals to generate an optical experience with spiritual echoes. The arrangement of the beads in mosaic form gives the piece a tactile presence which, combined with its scale and the brightness of the decals, generates an overpowering effect. The title Pachamamita alludes to the Quechua word for the Mother Earth figure of the Andean worldview. In his work, Chávez expresses a sustained interest in Pre-Columbian art and architecture, as well as in living indigenous practices such as the therapeutic use of ayahuasca.