Dance of Illusions

Pablo Atchugarry, 2015 (Uruguay)

Carrara marble, 163 1/2 x 76 3/4 x 33 1/2 in.

“Alan and I first met Pablo and his wife at his studio serendipitously during our travels through Uruguay in December 2014. He gets his white Carrara marble from the same quarry in Tuscany that Michelangelo used to carve David. While touring his workshop, I saw a huge, beautiful block of pristine stone. I loved the feel, look and permanence of stone.

I walked right over and hugged it on the spot, so I could feel the cool stone on my face. I asked if I could buy just the stone. I then described Alnoba to Pablo as a special place where people come from all over the world, all getting along and all moving together. Right then he started to draw on the large block of marble and we began our collaboration to envision Dance of Illusions.”
–Harriet Lewis

Pablo Atchugarry is a Uruguayan artist. His work is based on the classic sculptural principle that the natural beauty of marble evolves out the simple variations in the stone, however enhanced, when the form remains refined and pure, with the intent to channel spiritual energies into the spaces they occupy. Archugarry’s works invite contemplation of the Divine.

There is no ideal view from which to observe this sculpture. The viewer can enjoy each side as a whole and contemplate how all of the forms work together. The artist utilizes sinuous curves, folds and openings that evoke plants, trees, waves, fire and the human figure.