INTERVIEW Alexandra Alexandropoulou
PUBLISHED 7. MAR 2025
Glass, light, and energy intertwine in the artwork “Diafanizado” by Elías López. It is an exploration of material, of processes of transformation and self-discovery. In his artistic research, he delves into transparency’s physical and metaphorical dimensions, drawing connections between glass casting, scientific analysis, and spiritual processing.
Reflecting on a Japanese proverb about the three masks that everyone carries, the conversation unfolds around the fluid nature of identity and perception. How does light become a vessel for both visibility and concealment? And what happens when the unseen forces within us are rendered visible and transparent?
// How does your work with glass casting and transparency relate to energy as a physical and metaphorical force in artistic creation?
I will start with energy as a physical force or the electricity phenomenon in my project “Diafanizado.” I explore the possibility of using the glass as a material for projection. What usually happens when trying to make glass interact with light, depending on the glass’s materiality and its shape, is that it either reflects some light to another point or breaks the different wavelengths that light has. So my approach is generating an object where light can be “kept”.
Talking about the spiritual side of the topic of energy, in this project, I explore the conceptual side, in which I bring up a Japanese proverb that says that one has three “faces” or “masks”: One that we show to our family and close relatives, one that we show to our open circle or environment and one that we keep to ourselves.
There is also a psychological approach that studies behavior and mentions that usually, humans develop different conduct depending on who we are surrounded by. In both ideas, these masks, conduits, faces, or behaviors are led by the environment, not the self. I connect my life process with these concepts to bring up this project where I intend to make those masks transparent to find and show an authentic self, my primary purpose in my spiritual development.
// The title “Diafanizado” references a scientific technique, the diaphanization. Diaphonization is a staining technique used on animal specimens. It first renders the animal’s body transparent by bathing it in trypsin and then stains the bones and cartilage with various dyes, usually alizarin red and alcian blue. How do you see the relationship between your work and biological or anatomical processes?
It refers to the chemical process where the soft tissue of a dead living being can be made transparent, which makes it easier to study. In Spanish, it’s called “diafanizació”, in Latin, it refers to “diaphanous”, which means transparent or letting the light pass through.
The word’s etymology connects with the purpose of working manually in the glass, making it transparent or at least partially so the projection stays, but you can still see through the object. Some other aesthetic decisions regarding the video feed were made considering how dead living beings look after being diaphanized.
// In what ways does the artwork engage with themes of transformation, sustainability, and personal growth, reflecting the role of energy in self-discovery and material processes?
It is about how new generations are touched by the ancestors’ wisdom: spirituality from an esoteric side. Alternative practice played a considerable role in native ancestry so long ago, and we are in a time where, thanks to globalization, messages, cultures, practices, and encounters can be seen from anywhere in the world. My handling of the material creates a metaphor for the process of self-discovery. At the same time, it is a material work that is an expression of spirituality.
// Your project parallels scientific processes like diaphonization and emotional or psychological evolution — how do you see this approach contributing to broader discussions on collective energy, resilience, and environmental awareness?
These parallels are beyond my approach. During my self-development, I’ve encountered several esoteric practices and psychological theories, which have guided me to a different type of mentoring: sharing knowledge.
I am self-taught, which gives me freedom and a variety of perspectives, tools, and the openness to understand how connections can be made. This allows me to understand the world, even the one that is not so much related to art.
FEATURED IMAGE
Elías López: Diafanizado. GOLDSTÜCKE Gelsenkirchen 2024. Photo: Lars Gonikman.