Ehécatl: Memories transcended through the objects
PRODUCTION: Ademán
product photography:
Ehécatl
text: Sofia Arredondo
Ehecatl Moreno stands out in the art world with a unique and inspiring vision. His work transports us to a universe where everyday objects come to life, narrating stories and conveying memories that deserve to be preserved and cherished over time.
His creations, characterized by their visual impact and functionality, challenge traditional boundaries of art and design. Moreno believes that objects should be valued not only for their beauty but also for their ability to integrate and enrich our daily lives and environments. This philosophy is reflected in his interior design projects, both residential and commercial, where he seeks to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing and beautiful in the traditional sense, but also deeply resonant on a personal and cultural level.
In the realm of glass, Moreno distinguishes himself as a master in creating bespoke pieces as well as stained glass. His works, crafted with meticulous precision, range from architectural installations to decorative details, always standing out for their exceptional craftsmanship and artistic expressiveness, supported by a profound belief in the vitality of the objects that surround us. Glass, an exquisite and capricious material due to its demanding processes, opens up before the viewer as a display of the subtlety and harmony that can reside within objects.
Moreno's unique perspective is manifested in his firm conviction that objects shape our present and future. His designs, which explore the tension between the familiar and the novel, the natural and the artificial, invite us to confront our perceptions and emotions. Inspired by the cultural and scenic richness of his surroundings, Moreno creates pieces that not only beautify spaces but also provoke deep emotional reflection.
The artist's work is a tribute to memory and a bridge to the future, merging the nostalgic with the innovative in each creation, celebrating a beauty that both unsettles and captivates. Since 2006, his versatile individual proposal has broken the boundaries of language, rationality, and norms, raising profound questions about death, time, and what lies beyond the immediately appreciable.
INTERVIEWER
Family memories in your designs
Ehécatl
It's not just about my memories, but about the memories that transcend through objects when they are inherited. We live in an era of mass production, consumption, and disposal. Most of the objects around us will end up in the trash in 10-15 years at most. However, the objects that endure in our lives and that we pass on to friends, family, etc., become scenographic and end up being amulets or altars. I like to design from that perspective. But I also incorporate elements from my own memory into my designs. San Andrés, for example, is inspired by the warm and mysterious emotions that the town of my grandfather in the region of Los Tuxtlas brings to me. There is a sense of occultism and revelations through the sinuous forms and the chromed finish that absorbs the surroundings and returns them to its viewer. Now, as part of the lamp, its surroundings, and the intimate relationship that is created when touching it and turning it on with the body's own electrical energy, this connection deepens, making the experience even more personal and profound.
INTERVIEWER
The world of insects as a point of inspiration
Ehécatl
I have grown up in a crucible of ideas about death, where violence has been normalized for centuries, yet coexists with a very diverse and dreamlike beauty. I believe that insects as inspiration narrate this relationship between decay and renewal. There are insects that decompose and insects that fertilize, and in reality, they all dance around a scene as beautiful as it is tragic. I think that living immersed in this culture of death allows me to present a different vision to be judged by the viewer. In contemporary times, insects are usually infantilized, but in the indigenous cultures of Mexico, they were a crucial part of the ‘inhabitants' lives, not only on a natural level but also on a spiritual, cyclical, and medicinal level.
INTERVIEWER
An experience of the Glass Class
Ehécatl
It is very interesting to open the studio to create a community. You don't need to know anything about glass or design to participate, which allows anyone to get closer to the world of glass and its transformation. It is very satisfying to see the reactions of surprise when they cut glass for the first time and interact with the material, understanding its chemical and physical structure in a didactic way. This approach combines artistic and scientific learning to create their own design piece, seeing how it transforms at over 800°C, and then taking it home. Of course, my practice is enriched by exchanging ideas, knowledge, and questions with those who attend.
Moreno also dedicates himself to artistic production for other creators, offering personalized solutions that enhance their projects and portfolios. His focus on craftsmanship and creativity, along with close collaboration, allows other artists to elevate their visions to the next level.
Born amidst the lush landscapes of Cuernavaca and imbued, as he himself states, with the vibrant atmosphere of the summer decadence of 20th-century Mexico -without TV or internet-, Ehecatl remembers himself always driven by a curiosity to create objects. He received his academic training at the National Institute of Fine Arts, where he studied design, glass, and ceramics for seven years. This was followed by a specialization in interior architecture at UNAM, which has been fundamental in developing his distinctive and divergent aesthetic.
Family memories in your designs
Ehécatl
It's not just about my memories, but about the memories that transcend through objects when they are inherited. We live in an era of mass production, consumption, and disposal. Most of the objects around us will end up in the trash in 10-15 years at most. However, the objects that endure in our lives and that we pass on to friends, family, etc., become scenographic and end up being amulets or altars. I like to design from that perspective. But I also incorporate elements from my own memory into my designs. San Andrés, for example, is inspired by the warm and mysterious emotions that the town of my grandfather in the region of Los Tuxtlas brings to me. There is a sense of occultism and revelations through the sinuous forms and the chromed finish that absorbs the surroundings and returns them to its viewer. Now, as part of the lamp, its surroundings, and the intimate relationship that is created when touching it and turning it on with the body's own electrical energy, this connection deepens, making the experience even more personal and profound.
INTERVIEWER
The world of insects as a point of inspiration
Ehécatl
I have grown up in a crucible of ideas about death, where violence has been normalized for centuries, yet coexists with a very diverse and dreamlike beauty. I believe that insects as inspiration narrate this relationship between decay and renewal. There are insects that decompose and insects that fertilize, and in reality, they all dance around a scene as beautiful as it is tragic. I think that living immersed in this culture of death allows me to present a different vision to be judged by the viewer. In contemporary times, insects are usually infantilized, but in the indigenous cultures of Mexico, they were a crucial part of the ‘inhabitants' lives, not only on a natural level but also on a spiritual, cyclical, and medicinal level.
INTERVIEWER
An experience of the Glass Class
Ehécatl
It is very interesting to open the studio to create a community. You don't need to know anything about glass or design to participate, which allows anyone to get closer to the world of glass and its transformation. It is very satisfying to see the reactions of surprise when they cut glass for the first time and interact with the material, understanding its chemical and physical structure in a didactic way. This approach combines artistic and scientific learning to create their own design piece, seeing how it transforms at over 800°C, and then taking it home. Of course, my practice is enriched by exchanging ideas, knowledge, and questions with those who attend.
Moreno also dedicates himself to artistic production for other creators, offering personalized solutions that enhance their projects and portfolios. His focus on craftsmanship and creativity, along with close collaboration, allows other artists to elevate their visions to the next level.
Born amidst the lush landscapes of Cuernavaca and imbued, as he himself states, with the vibrant atmosphere of the summer decadence of 20th-century Mexico -without TV or internet-, Ehecatl remembers himself always driven by a curiosity to create objects. He received his academic training at the National Institute of Fine Arts, where he studied design, glass, and ceramics for seven years. This was followed by a specialization in interior architecture at UNAM, which has been fundamental in developing his distinctive and divergent aesthetic.