Ph: AURA Photo

The title “Jajan't”, inspired by a meme, synthesizes the essence of the show: that which should make you laugh but doesn't quite make you laugh. This ambiguous tone is reflected in the sculptures, representing bodies in tension and bewilderment states. From a dog with Crocs to migraine heads, Castro's works evoke images of contemporary culture and reconfigure the materiality of banal objects such as wicker canes, small commercial shelves, floral sponges, and rubber bands. These elements, commonly found in supermarkets or hardware stores, are combined with traditional art materials, creating a crossover that is key to Castro's work.

The artist transforms these objects to generate images far removed from their origin, bordering on the absurd and evoking both collage and assemblage techniques. During this creative process, the precarious becomes essential. This strategy is particularly evident in a sculpture representing a body that stumbles and falls. Here, the elements seem to crumble while maintaining their integrity, a metaphor for the fragile balance that defines the human experience.

One of the most striking pieces is a totem pole that appears to be preoccupied. Constructed from commercial shelving and ribbons, this assemblage generates an unexpected connection between the human body and inanimate objects. The work questions how our existence is trapped in the dynamics of accumulation and consumption, suggesting a parallel between the absurdity of materials and the absurd repetition of our routines. Along with the rest of the pieces, Castro's works take references from contemporary culture, from TV series to memes and stickers circulating on the internet, addressing themes such as physical pain, discomfort, and humor.

Curator Carla Barbero allows the works to unfold without any explicit dialogue with other artistic references, which strengthens the autonomy of Castro's visual and conceptual universe. Jajan't does not seek to please, but to provoke. From uncomfortable humor to the aesthetics of waste, the exhibition is an exercise in confronting our own contradictions. It is an invitation to rethink how we perceive the banal, transforming the everyday into a space for astonishment and criticism. A proposal that, far from simplifying, delves into the complexity of the human through the seemingly trivial.