Avenida Saenz Pena is no secret to lovers of art and culture in Barranco. Overlooked by the rooftop terrace of Hotel B and the proudly waving flag of the Spanish Ambassador’s residence, and punctuated by the cliffs overlooking Costa Verde, Saenz Pena is a quiet escape from the surrounding streets of the bustling hipster district.
Neo Concept Store sits at number 127 Saenz Pena and is the primary destination for art lovers on the street. Part retail space, part gallery, and part artist’s commune, Its large front space lures art aficionados inside with its monthly exhibitions from established Peruvian Artists. Neo Concept Store’s mission: to remind visitors that ‘Living is an Art’.
This month’s exhibition is Del Trazo al Volume (From the Stroke, to Volume), the contrasted lifeworks of Peruvian born and internationally inspired Emilio Rodríguez-Larraín. This new exhibition presents nine drawings, eight sculptures and a collection of oil paintings that show creativity, experimentation and production in various media where the artist explores the intersection between the indeterminate and the concrete, reflecting a constant in his career: absolute creative freedom and the constant search for new expressive languages.
Rodríguez-Larraín‘s exploration of surrealism through the lens of technical drawing, in the form of reliefs and sculpture are an immediate greeting when one arrives at Neo Concept Store. The installation pushes guests to question their relationships with the utility of objects by asking themselves ‘what does art do?’ The straight edges of the sculptures, coupled with bolts, welds, screws, and threads of industrially-inspired materials force the mind to break the works down into form and function.
“Do the bars make sounds?” I ponder as I walk past the largest instillation, a wooden sculpture that resembles a hybrid of a xylophone, a therapists chair, a medieval torture device, and, perhaps, some sort of raft-cum-trebuchet. The surrounding reliefs of technical drawings further cement the idea that the sculptures have machinated utilities and with important components inspired from Europe and America that do… well, something?
Other sculptures in the exhibition include carved wooden works the resemble birds eye views of fortresses, cut glass that resemble slides from science labs, wood and metal-work fusions that resemble important devices from 60’s sci-fi, and metal pyramids the exude importance. But, they are only half the story.
The second and third floor of Neo Concept Store are a labyrinth of retail spaces joined by LED-glowing staircases; liminal spaces where now becomes the future in a matter of pigeon-steps and 90 degree turns. Each space asks your schema to forget its assumptions about the environment; they won’t be needed here. The artists who sell their designs have complete control over their space. Each mini-tienda is an exhibition of the artist’s personality and values. Emilio Rodríguez-Larraín’s early works are hidden amongst these spaces, as a reward for those who adventure inside.
Neo Concept Store is a transformative space. One second, you are viewing the examinations of the feminine form through marble sculpture and bold-indigenous woven patterns, the next second, you are musing on corruption and rebellion through recovered mix-media and re-purposed materials. Perform an about turn, and you’re staring into the eyes of beaded-mosaic jaguars and pumas, surrounded by ayahuasca inspired fractals that melt on the walls; firm reminders of which part of the world you are standing in.
And, although the gallery may be a world away from your place of origin, Neo Concept Store does their best to make you feel at home. We were greeted by Julio, our bilingual host who went out of his way to ensure that we understood the history of the space, the artists behind it, and hidden easter eggs from floor to floor. Talk to the staff to find out how the space was transformed from the humble Wu Gallery, into the behemoth of art, design, and retail that it is today. The artists and designers are approachable and would love to share their stories with inquisitive travellers. Who better to buy souvenirs from, than someone that can tell you the story behind each bespoken piece.
The souvenirs that stood out the most for us at Vamos Lima were the Tallan Hat Collection by Viki Lynch and the fun-themed alpaca-wool socks by Three. Viki Lynch’s Tallan Collection is a series of hats woven by the masterful hands of of the women of Bajo, Piura. They are equal parts sexy and classy and come in a range of designs and colors that complement any summer outfit.
Three’s alpaca wool socks are perfect souvenirs for family at home. Made of fine alpaca wool and dyed with hundreds of different motifs, there’s an affordable, comfy fit for everyone.
The Del Trazo al Volume exhibition is open now until the end of September 2022
Neo Concept Store is open from Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm.
Address: Av. Sáenz Peña 127 Barranco Municipalidad Metropolitana de Lima LIMA, 04
Entrance: Free
