Leo Eguiarte & Melly Trochez: RITUAL/S

Leo Eguiarte’s ongoing series delves into a world of symbolism and graphic imagery, reflecting Eguiarte’s interests in signs and everyday ritual. While much of the work suggests esoterism and metaphysical states or landscapes, Eguiarte’s approach is particularly subtle, focusing on the unspoken customs that particular groups or individuals practice daily. As a kind of re-appropriation of what he sees as an already-appropriated point of view of some occultist groups and beliefs, his imagery evolves out of any concrete attachment to belief or practice, and enters into a meticulous and precise graphic world with simple vocabularies. His circuit panel series strives toward a kind of streamlined perfection: symmetrical lines, patterned dots, concentric circles, prisms and a consistently limited color scheme of magenta, pink and turquoise that allow for infinite variations on a theme.

Melly Trochez’s work deals specifically with rituals: activities that are passed on culturally through generations that become embedded in notions of identity. Particularly interested in observing – and often commenting on – standards of beauty in Latina culture, Trochez’s larger format acrylic paintings depict characters from her own life (sometimes even herself) participating in beautifying routines: ironing and bleaching hair, applying sunblock, mirror gazing – many rituals that become unconscious, those that we forget why we even began doing them. Comments made when we were younger, images seen during developing years, advice and critique passed down through generations become an everyday practice. Trochez is pointing at these through her depictions that carry the cultural focus to an image. In doing so, she highlights these rituals and brings them into question – a question that feels more like curiosity, or a simple noticing, rather than outward critique or commentary.

Opening Reception: November 17, 2018, 7:00 – 10:00 pm

Gallery Hours: Tuesday, 1:00 – 6:00 pm; Wednesday & Thursday, 11:00 – 4:00 or by appointment

ace/121 Gallery is located at 121 N. Kenwood Street, Glendale CA 91206 (entrance via Louise and the YMCA Parking lot).

This exhibit is made possible by the Eisner Foundation and LA County Arts Commission. It is presented by EngAGE and Meta Housing

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