Carlos Nicanor

Carlos Nicanor, a sculptor from the Canary Islands, seamlessly blends the surrealist legacy of André Breton, the dadaist movement, and the word-object concept of Joseph Kosuth with the rich heritage of Canarian artisans. His work defies the physical limitations of materials, transforming wood, metal, threads, and paper into almost impossibly smooth, organic, and autonomous forms. Nicanor’s sculptures challenge both the physics of the materials and human sensitivity, reminding us that art is born from the handmade, evolving at a pace distinct from contemporary life.

The artist's work is a testament to the duality of form and word, using irony and sarcasm as playful yet profound tools. His installations, like Icor (2020), transform spaces into mythological realms, engaging viewers both physically and intellectually. They invite (or not) the public to penetrate that swarm of threads turned into arteries. They are the metaphor of penetrating the human body viscerally, reading it from the inside, rediscovering it from its bone, soul, and poetry. Nicanor's ability to expand traditional materials into contemporary gestures places him alongside notable artists like the Cuban collective Los Carpinteros and American sculptor Martin Puryear.