Text by Pedro Ávila / Photos by Victoria Yamagata
Aalvo Gallery presents “Satellite,” an exhibition by Pedro Ávila. This series is a poetic homage to the intersection between the science of cosmology and the popular imagination about human adventures towards the unknown in space. “Satellite” reflects on our understanding of the universe, from Galileo’s revelations, which placed us on a small planet within a vast cosmos, to contemporary advancements that continue to challenge our perception of centrality and importance in the universal fabric.
Through a fusion of functional and sculptural objects, Pedro channels the aesthetics of astronomical instruments and the cultural fascination with space exploration. Inspired by his experience in Brasília, under the influence of brutalism and Oscar Niemeyer’s organic forms, the designer explores materials and shapes that evoke an advanced technological era, marked by contrasts between the organic and the synthetic, the historical and the futuristic.
The “Satellite” collection stands out for its use of pairs of antagonistic materials that complement each other, such as stainless steel and paper, natural resin and leather, bronze and fabric, creating a dialogue between roughness and softness, industrial and artisanal. This choice of materials not only highlights visual and tactile contrast but also symbolizes the duality between the coldness of technology and the warmth of human nature.
The title of the collection, is multifaceted, reflecting not only celestial bodies orbiting a primary one but also the idea of accompaniment, protection, and dependence, whether in astronomical, human, or technological contexts. Thus, each piece becomes a satellite in itself, gravitating around concepts and stories that connect them to the larger universe of creativity and exploration.
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“Satellite” is a reflection on our position in the universe, a reminder of our insignificance in the face of cosmic vastness, and, at the same time, of our ability to understand and reimagine this space through science and art. Pedro Ávila invites us to look at the sky not as a limit but as an infinite field of possibilities, where each star, planet, or satellite symbolizes a point of connection between the known and the unknown, the past and the future, the real and the imaginary.
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To see the full catalogue of Pedro Ávila click here.
