In 1972, then Einar and Jamex de la Torre When they were nine and twelve years old, respectively, their family moved to Southern California from their hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. Drawing on their immigrant experiences and the sometimes conflicting facets of bicultural identity, the artists began creating sculptures and installations that explored themes as varied as time, religion, traditions, and regionalism.
The pair have worked together since the 1990s, combining blown glass and mixed media to create large-scale wall pieces and striking public art. In the extensive exhibition Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective at the Corning Glass Museumthe pair present forty works from almost three decades.
In the display case is a brand new, monumental commission entitled ‘Meteorite dall’ Influenza Veneziana’, which draws on the rich history of Venetian or Murano glass.
While only pieces produced on the small Italian island can bear the name Murano – think Champagne in the wine world or Parmigiano Reggiano for cheese – the de la Torre brothers relish the idea that “one day [the technique] escaped, it hit the glassblowing world like a meteorite,” says Einar.
The de la Torre brothers are known for their additive approach, infusing both meaning and material into meticulous assemblages. Vibrant colors and sometimes ironic details, such as symbols for a car battery or engine light, emerge when encountered up close and then dissolve into energetic patterns when viewed from a distance.
Today the duo divides their time between San Diego and the Guadalupe Valley of Baja California, Mexico, and the sometimes humorous interplay of American and Mexican motifs plays an enduring role in their practice. Many pieces feature motifs specific to Mexico, such as the iconic, round design Aztec calendar which combines a 365 day cycle with a 260 day ritual or spiritual cycle. Mechanical gears, shells, religious iconography, anatomy and more come together in their maximalist compilations.
The brothers created the new work in the studio of the Corning Museum and the idea to incorporate Venetian details reed work emerged organically around the hotshop team’s experience with the style. “An artist’s job is to get away with their vision,” says Einar, “and we were very pleased and surprised at the amount of support we received for our ideas for this commission.”
Collidoscope continues through January 5 in Corning, New York. Find more about the artists website.
