51. ALFALFA STUDIO
“Can Bonds of Love be something more than an all-women exhibition in a
predominantly male gallery?” Questions such as this, posed by Lia Gangitano
in her introduction, are subtly answered in the actual design of this
elegant hardcover catalog.
Curated and organized by artist and performer Lisa Kirk, Bonds
of Love ran at John Connelly Presents in Manhattan and featured
the works of 14 female-born artists. “Alfalfa’s main concern was to
challenge preconceptions about an all-female show rather tenderly
titled Bonds of Love,” explains designer Rafael Esquer. “We began
with the title, creating a typographic wire sculpture for the cover.
The surprising juxtaposition of such soft words with the harshness
of the material creates new meaning.”
For Esquer, the malleability of wire also seemed a subtle metaphor
for gender. “We made hundreds of male and female symbols
out of different kinds of wire,” he says. His mini-sculptures appear
throughout the book, on the divider and end pages. “Some people
see a resemblance to pubic hair,” Esquer notes, “or to forests seen
from above.”
This catalog, showcasing the work of an eclectic group of artists,
is an art piece in its own right.
Romy Ashby
Alfalfa Studio
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Rafael Esquer
DESIGNERS: Esquer, Olivia Ting, Ace Angara, Allison Ruiz
CLIENT: John Connelly Presents
CONTACT: www.alfalfastudio.com
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