Of Earth and Aether

About

This is Hazel Florez’s first solo show of works dating between 2016- 2020. The show explores the artist’s interest in the surreal, symbolism, Jungian archetypes, dreams and the subconscious. Florez’s work is influenced by the  visionary landscapes of Hieronymous Bosch. Her creative process involves creating fantastical worlds and draws on the work of the female surrealists of the 20th century including Leonor Fini, Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington. Utilising pre-Christian philosophies including hermeticism, alchemy and mysticism, the artist explores the human psyche and in the modern world, and a growing desire to connect to ancient practices of spirituality, symbolism and ritualistic communication.

Titled ‘Of Earth and Aether’, Florez’s exhibition gathers the work of the artist from a five year period of productivity. The show contains pieces by the artist working across a range of media including: painting, drawing, costume, photography, collage, mixed media, digital art and installation. Florez employs the artistic language of Neosymbolism, an emerging movement in contemporary art. Florez’s work seeks to dispense with the clinical, sterile and overly rational discourses found in modern western cultural aesthetics. Florez aims to celebrate the mystery of the unknown and the unfathomable using myth and storytelling to reflect a contemporary rediscovery of Western esotericism.