DIEGO PÉREZ
Galería RGR, 2020An unusual tension between sand and stone propelled Diego Pérez’s exhibition “Historia de arena” (History of Sand). Pérez used sand to make three maquettes (Mesa infinita [Infinite Mesa] 1, 2, and 3, 2020) that evoked archetypal edifices with staircases leading to the sky. The material also featured prominently in two photographic series—“Apuntes para la mesa infinita” (Notes for Infinite Mesa) and “Apuntes para la mesa infinita. Vista panorámica” (Notes for Infinite Mesa: Panoramic View), both 2020—that portray stepped pyramids vaguely resembling those of ancient Mesoamerica in the form of sandcastles on a beach, suggesting ephemerality and futility. These works also counterpointed the dense materiality of the exhibition’s other pieces, all of which were carved in what could loosely be designated “stone”: various kinds of volcanic rock, concrete, and construction bricks.