If not an hongo // Si no es un mushroom, begins with an investigation of a biological occurrence native to Guatemala: an abnormal growth that occurs on certain trees in response to a parasitic mistletoe. Often mistaken for some kind of mushroom, these intricate woody tumors are collected and sold as decorative curios. As I questioned guest/host dynamics in relation to parasitism and hospitality (and my own role as a visitor) I made a series of concrete sculptures that engage and respond to architectural details throughout Yvonne. Opening the week of the U.S. inauguration, If not an hongo looks for ways to live under threat, finding a model for necessary resistance that fosters the growth of something beautiful.

Spore Print series, 2017 (monoprint, 35 cm x 35 cm)

Matapalos, 2017 (concrete, based on tiles measuring 20 cm x 20 cm)

Many thanks to Taller Experimental de Gráfica de Guatemala (TEGG) for printmaking wisdom.

Photography by Karl Williamson