Carlos was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He has always been interested in arts and crafts and has been dedicated to working as a Jeweller since 2005. He has exhibited in Encounters every year for the past 11 years. His jewellery brand ‘Esquirlas’ features original work designed and made by Carlos Sanchez and Marianna Teixeira. Early collections were inspired by his travels in the Andes and in Amazonian. His work is in permanent evolution and he has created his own artistic vocabulary. Over the years, Carlos has captured the appreciation of many visitors, some annually returning to add new Esquirlas’ pieces to their collections. More recently Marianna Teixeira joined Esquirlas, bringing new talents and skills. Their journey as makers continues, traveling to new horizons and exploring the limitless beauty of metal and stone and of art and craftsmanship. Special pieces have been designed for Encounters to reflect the distinctive curatorial narrative.
Carlos and Mariana’s recent work is captured in a brilliant video.
It is the intrinsic properties of materials, such as shape, colour, transparency or opacity that inspire Carlos. He explores which characteristics need to be enhanced or transformed, taking into consideration the ways in which metals, stone and shapes interrelate.
He does not tend to have a predetermined idea of a final composition; the materials themselves dictate his process of making, resulting in a piece that fulfils an intuitive sense of that which the raw materials can become. Especially in metal work he finds himself experimenting with the unlimited possibilities of the patina, oxides and electrolysis, trying to explore the potential of new ideas that extend his range of techniques. Accordingly, Carlos’ work is a constant search to deepen understanding of the potential of materials and to extend his skills of making within the endless possibilities of aesthetic creativity.
One piece had special significance to our 2018 show. It is (im)pact (shown above) that Carlos’ Artist Statement explains “provides a totem of our inalienable pact. It shows out Earth, naturally green and brown, in harmony. But, should this piece be touched excessively, then the green will wear away and become ike a barren land. (Im)pact is a metaphor of human impact on our Planet and of our violation of the fundamental pact”.
Encounters is pleased to feature ESQUIRLA’s collection by Carlos Sanchez.
