NAOS: SELF TEMPLES
Temples in the world were created as an escape route for the soul. Spaces where we isolate ourselves from the outside world and navigate within. Portals of heaven on earth. Common spaces for personal introspection. An abode where creativity and spirituality unite.
While temples are for community worship, Naos temples were conceived as intimate and personal sacred spaces. A piece of heaven on earth, a synthesis of a terrestrial and heavenly abode. Labyrinths and sensual feminine earthy structures constitute an orderly flowing microcosm. The work contains numerous auspicious symbols including an egg (the ovule, the cocoon) the navel, columns, the Fibonacci wall (reconstituting sacred geometry) and the fountain.
This body of work consists of a series of miniature brick maquettes, 1:100 scale models, following the official architectural norm. Large scale temples have also been commissioned.
NAOS: Original Temple, 2019. Full installation dimension: 600 cm x 600 cm x 300 cm. Material: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved, unique pieces, series.
The Original Temple maquette; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimensions: 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm. Material: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved, unique pieces, series.
The Forest Temple, The Fortress Temple, The Desert Temples maquettes; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimension: 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm (each segment). Material: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved, unique pieces, series.
The Oasys Temple, The Fortress Temple, The Navel Temple, The Forest Temple, The Constellation Temple, The Lotus Flower Temple maquettes; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimension: 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm (each segment. Materials: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved, unique pieces, series.
The Oasys Temple, The Fortress Temple, The Navel Temple, The Forest Temple, The Constellation Temple, The Lotus Flower Temple maquettes; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimension: 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm (each segment. Materials: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved, unique pieces, series.
The Pyramid Temple, The Original Temple, The Infinite Temple maquettes; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimensions: 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm (each segment). Materials: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved, unique pieces, series.
Naos Underwater Temple; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimensions: 50 cm x 50 cm x 35 cm. Material: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement, glass water tank, live fish. Technique: Hand build and hand carved.
Naos Underwater Temple; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimensions: 50 cm x 50 cm x 35 cm. Material: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement, glass water tank, live fish. Technique: Hand build and hand carved.
The Dome Temple maquette; Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimensions: 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm. Materials: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved.
The Pyramid Temple maquette; 2021. Dimensions: 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm. Materials: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement, copper wire, led light. Technique: Hand build and hand carved.
Exhibition installation, Naos exhibition, Sol Del Rio gallery, 2020. Dimensions: 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm (each segment). Materials: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: Hand build and hand carved, unique pieces, series.
Maquette size reference, exhibition installation at Sol Del Rio gallery, Guatemala City, Guatemala, 2019.
The Ovum in the Pond, public sculpture commission, Chengdu, China, 2023. Dimensions: 600 cm diameter x 350 cm height. Materials: Traditional terracotta bricks and cement. Technique: hand carved and assembled.
The Ovum in the Pond, public sculpture commission, Chengdu, China, 2023.