Anton Alvarez’s String Theory
This April, Swedish-Chilean designer Anton Alvarez brings a little color to Salon 94’s whitewashed Freeman Alley space with a month-long residency. The pop-up studio offers New Yorkers the opportunity to see the artist in action and get a first look at his signature wrapping machine—a wormhole-like device created by the artist to join everyday materials like plywood and cardboard tubes into furniture with a combination of glue and string. See a preview here.
“One of my goals was to create a joining mechanism, which would be both new to me but also other artists.”
“Every piece is an evolution.”
“The strings are usually polyester but they didn’t arrive in time so I’m using a combination of polyester and cotton. These are from the Garment District. That was the first way that New York came into this work.”
“I wanted to create a tool for myself so I wouldn’t have to rely on other people’s ideas.”
“This is the first time I’m using mesh. I like the way the paint comes through it.”
“I like to strike a balance between the planned and the unplanned. Why wouldn’t I? It keeps it interesting.”
“Usually I work with plywood and the supplies I buy, but sometimes I’ll bring in something I found on the street. I am wondering what this city will bring me. A man already came back… and brought me a hockey stick. I don’t usually use ready-made objects, but I will use it.”
“I tried to keep a palette for these pieces, but I think it’s already evolved way pass what I initially planned.”