Iker Ortiz was approached by multidisciplinary artist Alonso Cartú, after one of his jewelry pieces caught the latter’s eye and inspiration.

The piece, a remarkable design by Iker from 2019, is a distinctive pendant in which a circular base made of polished stainless steel -one of the brand’s signature materials- acts as a mirror to reflect a protruding half-skull, completing it with a striking visual effect.

The collaboration sprung two complementing products that enhanced Iker’s original idea playing with the material’s mirroring qualities, into the realms of art by infusing it with Alonso’s work. AMERICAN DREAM was born.

First, an intervened version of the pendant materialized, with a silver skull now featuring Cartú’s characteristic Mickey ears reflecting on the steel. A reimagined jewelry piece as portable art.

Furthermore, a spectacular art piece was created, magnifying the same concept into large-scale wall sculptures with walnut-wood bases. Two polished stainless steel circles onto which their respective Mickey half-skulls reflect and appear to be complete in a stunning illusion act.

Facing each other, the chromed-bronze skulls emerge as if from a ghostly window, a portrait of the transformation that immigrants experience in their pursuit of the American Dream. The Mickey ears as a symbol of the aspirational American pop icon that they are willing to die for.

AMERICAN DREAM was presented during ZONA MACO Art Fair, 2020 Edition.

_

Find out more about Cartú