ALEX MITCHELL (Illinois, 1969).

ALEX MITCHELL (Illinois, 1969). "OH-OH," 2005. Mixed media on wood. Signed, titled and dated on the back. Presents label of the Rafael Perez Hernando Gallery. Measurements: 143 x 50 x 21 cm. Contemporary sculpture in which the artist has used a variety of materials, such as wood and fabrics, thus forming a variable and dynamic whole. These adjectives can be applied because the piece presents elements with which the spectator can interact. An example of this is the thumb or the rag doll that can be completely removed. Alex Mitchell began his artistic training studying Interior Design at the University of Cincinnati in 2000 after completing his degree, he continued his training at the Young Memorial Museum of San Francisco, and in 2002 he established himself as an artist-in-residence at the Palace of the California Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Throughout his career he has had numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally. To understand Alex Mitchell's work it is interesting to read the words of the artist in 2008 in the Logopress Art Magazine "The nature of my work is sculptural even though it hangs on walls. I consider the structure of each new work as a box that groups the images in the same way that a stage gathers a play. Sometimes the work manifests as a large painted wooden panel, with holes and three-dimensional figures attached to it to create shapes that move in and out of the panel. Other times, the work literally manifests as a wooden box that has a lid to be opened and small pieces inside that can be pulled out as if it were a treasure chest.I like the idea of my work existing somewhere between sculpture and painting. For me this ambiguity opens the door to also invent a way to play or interact as my work does. I achieve this through simple wooden mechanisms that give movement to the images or by including, for example, hand-sewn cloth dolls, which can be placed to give life to the characters within the images. Of course, an invitation to play or interact is also an invitation to create your own story, and sometimes I feel that I am offering the viewer a game inside its box, but without an instruction book. The viewer is free to create their own version of the game."