Tartalo 2007

This is Patxi Xabier Lezama Perier’s stone carving, Tartalo. What strikes me is the directness of the making. It's there in every chip and gouge; the artist's hand feels really present. The texture is rough, uneven, and the color is of the earth. It’s raw. The eye, a simple circle with a cross, is the focus. You can almost imagine Lezama Perier working away at this piece, his movements direct and decisive, creating something powerful from a solid block of stone. There's something ancient about it, like a relic from a forgotten civilization, but also like a Brancusi. Both are stripped down to their essential forms. It's as if Lezama Perier tapped into something primal, something universal, in this simple yet profound carving. And isn't that what art is all about?