federico carbajal

Federico Carbajal is an extremely talented artist who creates graphic and unique sculptures that combine science, art, and craft – three of my very favorite things. Rather than the traditional sculptures of bodies that are bulky and solid, Carbajal creates, as he explains in his artist statement, “tridimensional hybrids [that] bring together drawing, architecture and sculpture in order to create a coherent spatial entity.” The human form has been a historically significant source of artistic inspiration for centuries, but Carbajal represents it in a modern and fresh manner through the pieces in his “Anatomical Architectures” series.

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All images from http://federicocarbajal.weebly.com. Property of Federico Carbajal.

Capsule Hands

Galvanized wire, stainless steel, wire mesh, wood glass cylinder; 12″x12″x36″ each; 2008-2009

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Anatomical No-Body

Galvanized wire, stainless steel, acrylic; 18″x6″x18″ each; 2010

Anatomical No-Body (Heart)

Anatomical No-Body (Uterus)

Anatomical No-Body (Brain)

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Structural Spine

Galvanized wire, stainless steel, acrylic; 8″x5″x48″; 2009.

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As a student starting medical school in August, the anatomical and scientific subject matter of these sculptures unsurprisingly appeals to me a great deal, but aside from this contextual attraction, the unique presentation of the human body is what interests me most. When I think of traditional sculpture, I picture blocks of marble or clay, from which one chisels out the pieces, little by little, until a form emerges. Carbajal however takes a very different approach and thinks not just about the volume of a 3D sculpture, but also the lack of volume and hollowness it can simultaneously adopt.

In his artist statement, Carbajal states: “Spatial sketching allows for the possibility of new representations of images in space, exploring the void and the dematerialization of volume.” This concept of “spatial sketching” is particularly intriguing to me, as I mainly work in 2D and can’t help but follow all the lines and patterns of the wires that make up these anatomical architectures. These is an intricacy to Carbajal’s sculpting that is so detailed and linear, yet the forms and body parts still convey a strong sense of presence when all the wires and mesh and other materials are woven together. The construction allows the viewer to dissect each part of the sculptures in a transparent manner that is typically impossible in most sculptural works.

The choice of material (wire, metals, etc.) and maintenance of their natural silver tones are also very interesting juxtapositions to the warm fleshy hues of real living human bodies. Smooth skin and soft, plush, flexible organs are transformed into harsh lines and shiny metallic surfaces, yet remain recognizable in their overall shapes and proportions. Though the wires are solid and hard, they still convey a light quality in the way they are strung together in delicately ordered patterns. The wires seem to form a type of 3-dimensional x-ray, as Carbajal’s sculptures present snapshots of the human body but through 3D materials instead of flat x-ray film.

The methods of display of Capsule Hands and Anatomical No-Body are also quite clever and true to their scientific inspiration. A reference to specimens in clear jars put on display, Carbajal’s sculptures additionally play off of the ideas of preservation and immortality. Humans are by definition mortal and studying their anatomy, whether during a full body autopsy or cadaver dissection or observation of pickled organs in jars, necessarily involves the extra step of preserving their parts. Carbajal does that through art rather than science, and thankfully without the odor of formaldehyde, allowing an intense examination of something otherwise inaccessible.

Both his technical skill and ability to convey these many scientific associations make Carbajal an artist who can be admired by people from multiple disciplines and backgrounds.

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Source of images and artist’s website: http://federicocarbajal.weebly.com.

All images used with the permission of Federico Carbajal.

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