Artist Jorge Mañes Rubio takes a familiar object, the basketball, and transforms it into something mystical in his series “New Prophets”. These sculptures are no longer balls for shooting hoops, but rather elaborately beaded spheres. Each basketball is adorned with a unique combination of stylized creatures, plants, and figures, creating a visual story that’s both cryptic and captivating.
Rubio draws inspiration from an 8th-century Spanish illuminated manuscript, the “Commentary on the Apocalypse”, which blends Romanesque, Islamic, and Byzantine artistic traditions. This influence is evident in the intricate patterns and symbolic imagery found on his sculptures. “New Prophets” compels viewers to look beyond the ordinary and consider the potential for hidden narratives in everyday objects.
My artistic practice operates on a similar way: I’m claiming a space where I can continue to learn from a crucible of the most diverse influences, while at the same time carving my own distinctive path. I want to continue to explore cross-cultural themes and symbols that reflect and honour the extensive circulation of ideas, works, and people that came before us.
More info: Website, Instagram (h/t: Colossal).
