Barrio Escalante, San José

Visits by appointment only

Schedule a visit (opens the scheduler)
Juego Matutino, by Alexy Palenzuela. The gravity of solid wood yields here to an illusion of absolute lightness.

Alexy Palenzuela

Juego MatutinoInquire about availability

Year
2016
Technique
Wood
Dimensions
49 × 30 × 53 cm
Status
Inquire about availability
Palette
dark mahogany, warm chestnut, toasted caramel, deep brown
Brushwork
Direct wood carving with continuous curvilinear modeling and uniform satin polish

Curatorial analysis

The gravity of solid wood yields here to an illusion of absolute lightness. In this domestic, playful scene, the resolute weight of the carved block resolves into organic volumes of extraordinary continuity, where a resting maternal figure holds aloft a cluster of balloons while accompanying the child's upward momentum. A tactile paradox lies at the center of the piece: turning the ephemeral weightlessness of inflated rubber and air into the dense permanence of polished timber, making the ensemble seem to hover upon its own axis.

Structurally, the dynamism is organized along a powerful ascending diagonal. The woman's broad hip and generous thighs ground the composition directly onto the rectangular base, providing an earthly anchor that contrasts with the lift of her torso and the taut arch of her arms. Between this monumental body and the solitary sphere resting on the floor, the child acts as a living bridge, a smaller twisting mass that seeks to join the upward gesture of play. The transitions between limbs lack abrupt fractures; each curvature flows into the next with an elliptical cadence that guides the eye in an encompassing journey.

The surface, finished with a smooth satin sheen, allows the natural grain to contour the volumetry of the figures. Light does not strike sharp edges, but rather glides over the fleshy curves, revealing coppery tones and deep shadows in the crevices where the bodies converge. This tactile modeling celebrates an archetypal maternal sensuality linked to fertility and shelter.

Rather than simply documenting an everyday anecdote, the carving immortalizes morning intimacy, transforming it into a monument to affection. The recurring roundness in breasts, heads, balloons, and buttocks unifies the visual language, suggesting that the fullness of childlike play and the mother's sheltering form belong to the same harmonious order, suspended with serene dignity in the warmth of the medium.

Juego Matutino

More works by Alexy Palenzuela

15 works

Available works

Inquire about availability

Sold and historical

View all 15 works by Alexy Palenzuela

Similar works

By subject, palette and style

Message the gallery on WhatsApp

Cookies

We use cookies to learn how the site is used and to show the gallery's ads on other platforms. They are only turned on if you accept them.