Nohra Haime Gallery
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Susana Jaime-Mena
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"In her ability to engage us both visually and viscerally, sensually and intellectually, Jaime-Mena achieves something both distinct and moving within her work. However beautifully sensual her objects, and they are that, she goes beyond the realm of the physically pleasing to make us consider the nature of beauty. Is it the result of opposing forces held in abeyance? Or, in suspending opposing forces, does Jaime-Mena bring us into that realm of perception so precisely articulated by Rilke when he proposed that beauty was the beginning of terror?" - John Yau 2001
Throughout her career, Susana Jaime-Mena has been able to create sensuality out of simplicity. Stemming from the Minimalist tradition, her sculptures have a smooth and translucent energy that emits the essence of life.
Like Frank Lloyd Wright, she creates spatial environments. They are compact, and simultaneously, purposely massive. Like Le Corbusier, she is interested in grids. Akin to both architects, her architectural constructions are organic. She understands the meaning of the land and the largeness of geological resources. Her unique vision changes the structure of how we see things.
Jaime-Mena' works are widely praised for their innovative combinations of materials. Pairing lead, wood and wax, glass and copper, or wax and lead, these minimal sculptures evoke classical fortresses and architectural designs from the past. Intuitively, Jaime-Mena recreates in a contemporary context, pyramids, structures, books and scrolls that reflect other eras.
Rigid at first glance, Jaime-Mena's archetypes soften with the viewer's gaze. Her choice for colored wax - blue and white represent infinity. The warmth of materials such as wax (organic matter) and copper (Earth) contrast greatly with the austerity of lead (spirit) and glass (purity), and takes us to a better appreciation of nature. Combined, these materials create a sense of balance that reflects peace.
Susana Jaime-Mena was born in Argentina. An American citizen, she lives and works in Miami, Florida. Her sculptures belong to many private, corporate and public collections around the world.
A monograph on her work, with text by John Yau, was published last year by the Nohra Haime Gallery.
For further information contact Clarita Fodor.
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