Defying Conventions with the "Shattered Body" by Alfredo Garcia

Alfredo Garcia's mosaic sculpture, "Shattered Body" reinvents one of the oldest artistic traditions in European Art. As he shatters various pieces of patterned tiles and places them onto an unconventional surface, he creates a modern rebirth of the mosaic. Historically,  in ancient art, mosaics were often used for decorating floors and footbaths in wealthy homes. The artists would produce these designs by breaking marble, stone or glass into small pieces and painting wet grout over the spaces between the fragments.  When the cement dried, the pieces would gleam as a solid, beautiful surface.  

Although mosaics have become somewhat of a "lost art", Garcia manages to awaken this tradition in his strikingly unique sculpture. He uses shards of tile which feature abstract designs as opposed to solid colors to add complexity and break with tradition. Moreover, Garcia attaches these pieces onto a headless female mannequin figure covered in black grout instead of the traditional white color. By defying the conventional mosaic-tile surface, Garcia forces us to perceive his art work with new eyes. 

There are various ways that Garcia encourages viewers to approach his work, "Shattered Body". Firstly, the female figure, is idealistically crafted in terms of anatomical dimensions and shape. In accordance with this theme of idealism, Garcia chooses tiles with tapestry-like patterns, a suggestion of the domestic sphere, which is stereotypically dominated by women. However, by fragmenting these pieces, the female form seems to be escaping from the constrictions of home life, shattering away her conventional mold.  Also, one can  recognize a sense of female empowerment through the careful, hand-made quality of the body, which suggests a sensitivity behind its construction. 

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