María Paula Alvarez & Diego Alvarez

Wooden ripples and folds

• María Paula and Diego set up their creative studio Colectivo Mangle in 2006
• They craft custom moulds and tools to create curved laminated wood works
• Their creations have been showcased in international venues in New York, Miami and Mexico City

Although Diego Alvarez and María Paula Alvarez happened to share a last name, they first met at Santo Domingo Arts and Crafts School (EAOSD) in 2003. They became thesis partners after taking bent lamination technique classes during their carpentry studies. “Our projects are born from the tangle of ideas flowing from Diego’s head, which I ground and organise,” explains María Paula, as she describes their creative process. Her structured, academic training in educational psychology complements Diego’s empirical and free-enterprising style. Together, they explore innovative bending techniques, transforming laminated wood into extraordinary forms that evoke movement. Their practice has evolved from functional objects to artistic and conceptual creations and installations. "Through exploration, we succeed in tricking the viewer’s eye, as most people cannot believe at first glance that the material used in our pieces is wood," says Diego.

Interview

©Nathalie Martinez

©Nathalie Martinez

What was the first piece you worked on together?

We designed a furniture piece. It was a big format chair that required a great investment and handcrafted moulds. The chair was sold on sketches and that is how we subsidised making it. This led us to design a series that was exhibited at a gallery in downtown Bogotá in 2006.

How were you introduced to the world of art and galleries?

After our first gallery exhibition we were contacted by artists and received commissions for all sorts of exhibition solutions. We met Mexican collector and gallery owner Enrique Guerrero who introduced us to local ArtBo, New York, Miami and Mexican gallery markets.

How do you walk that thin line between craftsmen, designers and artists?

We have found a niche in the collectibles market. We started with furniture and evolved to more conceptual pieces by 2013 for a New York exhibition. Our work relies on the technical knowledge of our craft. Although there is a big component of design, we aim for recognition in the art world through our sculptures. This is challenging as makers and artists are still very segmented in Colombia.

What inspired your recent work?

The Elevations series is based on the idea of recreating a cloth or towel that appears to be hanging. It conveys a sense of movement while simultaneously evoking absence, leaving only a memory. This work is a tribute to María Paula’s mother and her final years.

María Paula Alvarez & Diego Alvarez are expert artisans: they began their career in 2006

Works

©Colectivo Mangle

©Colectivo Mangle

©Colectivo Mangle

Where