“Celestial Cochitta (Multiversal Dreams in the IIhuicatl)”

Royse Contemporary welcomes the much anticipated solo exhibition of artist Angel Cabrales entitled “Celestial Cochitta (Multiversal Dreams in the IIhuicatl)”. The artist has created and enthralling exhibition where the viewer will explore “a parallel world, where the Western Hemisphere averted colonization, and the indigenous people of the lands thrived unobstructed. This universe is a utopia of bountiful wonders where Aztechnonauts explore the heavens, Mayathmaticians unlock secrets of the universe, Olmchemists create new polymers, and Zapotecknical engineers build the architecture of the future.”

 

This fascinating body of work is “a glimpse of this worlds Interplanetary Space Program as they United Nations of Anahuac begin to explore the 13 Heavens in Search of Ometeotl, the all-god of creation. It celebrates the indigenous heritage of people like me and is intended to invoke curiosity into the untaught histories of our Mesoamerican legacy.”

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Growing up Cabrales was taught to take pride in my Mexican heritage and his family traced back their Spanish lineage, but their indigenous half was vaguely known. “This missing part of my ancestry has led me to the discovery of my culturally rich lineage, which includes the Rarámuri people of Chihuahua, Mexico, and the highly sophisticated and technologically advanced ancient societies of Mesoamerica, explains Cabrales. Who goes on to say, “Through a Sci-Fi-inspired vision, I aim to inspire others to research their own affluent heritages and fully embrace their complex ancestry.”

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Angel Cabrales is a multimedia artist and arts educator based in El Paso, Texas. His work examines aspects of Latinx identity, immigration, inequality and histories, a part of American culture that is misconstrued because of political and media rhetoric. The artist views everything as a potential artistic resource providing him with a flexibility to utilize a variety of mediums and styles. He merges media with intangible elements, such as his upbringing within the storied scientific history of New Mexico and political realities of the Texas borderlands. The creation and engineering in his work creates an interactive experience that merges art with new technologies and the socio-political concerns of today.

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Cabrales holds an MFA at the University of North Texas and a BFA at Arizona State University. His work is a part of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Estrellas y Cuentas initiative on Latinx Futurism. He is also a member of the International Sculpture Center, the Texas Sculpture Group, and the JUNTOS art collective, and has exhibited his work in numerous galleries and museums across the country. He is an associate professor and the head of Sculpture at the University of Texas at El Paso, including courses that bring together art concepts and STEAM elements.

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Cabrales is currently exhibiting in the In Pursuit: An Artist’s Perspective on a Nation exhibition at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, PA curated Elaine Crivelli and Leslie Kaufman, the Icons and Symbols exhibition at the James Museum in St. Petersburg, FL curated by Diana Molina and The United States and Mexico: A Powerful Past, A Shared Future by Art in Embassies, at the U.S. Embassy residence of Ambassador Ken Salazar in Mexico City, MX curated by Camille Benton which also showed at the 2023 Cervantino in Guanajuato, MX where he represented the United States of America in the History section of the exhibition.

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“Celestial Cochitta (Multiversal Dreams in the IIhuicatl)" exhibition will be on display from September 7th through September  28, 2024 at Royse Contemporary. We will host a special Opening and Artist Reception on Saturday, September 7th from 6:00pm until 9:00pm. Patrons will have the opportunity to meet the featured artist, learn about his captivating multimedia artworks, enjoy wine, treats, shopping and more!