"Although Porkchop is a multi-disciplinary artist, for this exceptional series of works the artist known as Porkchop in collaboration with Erarta museum chose to focus on large-scale sculptures. Artistically expanding on several mediums alongside sculpture, such as paint, illustration and text, Porkchop manages to evade an attribution to a particular artistic movement or grouping, allowing him to bridge the various forms of art in a highly sophisticated manner. In particular, his familiarity with murals and large scale graffiti art is echoed throughout this show, not only due to the momentous size of the exhibition, but also the discernible juxtaposition of the primary colours that he utilises within his oeuvre – gold, black and white.

From a technical perspective, the sculptures before you are painstakingly planned and cast, typically made of resin, fibreglass, gold leaf and acrylic paint. The artist himself creates the moulded structures from which a figure can emerge. Consequently, he laboriously adds layers of acrylic paint and real gold leaf to the works, followed by flawless coats of glossy resin, so that the imagined concept can be manifested. The application of paint onto his intentional ritualistic designs is deliberate, as by stripping these pieces of his normal vibrant palette and using only black, white and gold, as stark bold narrative referencing Central American traditions emerges.

It is the artist’s distinct methodology coupled with this unexpected perspective that can be observed throughout this exhibition. Principally, it is Porkchop’s exploration of the ancient Aztec civilization and rituals that led him to create the works before you. This, in addition to contemporary Mexican customs, is manifested in the series of works which have been assembled as if in a grand Basilica in front of you. We hope you enjoy the exhibition.

Exhibition curator – Dasha Vass