The Altar project is born from a fascination with shrines, altars, and pedestals—sacred spaces where rituals are performed and ceremonial objects are placed. Like an altar, this collection of tables serves as a place for awe, praise, and the treasuring of daily objects within the home.
S.R.O.
2021
HAND CARVED
TIKAL GREEN MARBLE
L19 5/8 x W19 5/8 x H23 5/8 IN
L50 x W50 x H60 cm
SERIES OF UNIQUE PIECES
Part of SRO (Sacred Ritual Objects) and rooted in the profound significance of altars in Mesoamerican cultures, this work reflects on the act of devotion, in this case, to a material. EWE sought to reinterpret the altar, creating more than just a functional piece but as a collection of works that celebrate the beauty of the tools and techniques used in stone craftsmanship.
While exposing both the raw and pristine qualities of the material, EWE explores a range of possibilities in stone and a unique approach to design. The Altar collection results in a sculptural range of pieces that embody the intersection of technique, ritual, and materiality.
Photography by Alum Gálvez, 2022.
The process of sculpting the stone is based on an obsessive and precise drilling, and the location of these holes is crucial to achieve the stability of the piece. The tool leaves its mark and trajectory, which we like to leave intact in contrast with some lateral faces and with the pristine surface, alluding to pre-Hispanic altars.
Through this sequence of perforations in different positions and depths with 4″, 6″ and 8″ drills, the marble or onyx block is shaped by a method that requires the piece to be sculpted upside down.
Installation view from MASA Galeria ‘The Last Tenant’ exhibition, Mexico City, 2021. EWE ‘Altar Tables’.
