Alejandro Almanza Pereda
Those who live by the sword die by the sword, or by third hand smoke
14 February – 14 March 2009

Chert Gallery is pleased to present ‘Those who live by the sword die by the sword, or by third hand smoke’, the first solo exhibition in Europe of Alejandro Almanza Pereda.

Alejandro Almanza Pereda’s practice questions objects of common use and their ability to overturn aspects normally connected with their production, consumption and use, and consequently their potential to overcome their idiosyncratic nature.
Almanza’s work displays a set of interacting objects forming an improbable balance system. In his universe, no definition or connotation is taken for granted.
He constantly plays with the moment before disaster, that time of illusory balance that reminds us of the vulnerability of things. The viewer is confronted with a suspended reality – an eternal second doomed by a sense of fragility perceptible in his work as well as in the outside world.
One of the most interesting aspects in Almanza’s installations is the context in which he runs his investigation of the limits of the object he selected. What at first glance would look like a puzzled situation is rendered familiar by the introduction of small elements suggesting human presence, thus adding a touch of ordinary life to otherwise surreal compositions.

The exhibition was made possible by the support of the Mexican Embassy in Berlin, The Culturia Berlin, Frau Gérgens from Bowling Association Deutschland, Bowlingcenter Schillerpark, Berlin and Martin Deuker from Deuker Pianos&Flügel.