The term tramoya is a Spanish term that largely refers to “stage machinery”. Furthermore, the mechanics behind the stage: ropes, pulleys and physical machinery that makes the illusion for a play to present its narrative. This body of work explores notions of power and how there is actually always something behind the power. Power isn’t dictated by one person alone, there’s a structure, there are other characters involved pulling the strings on a puppet king. 

The “tramoya” in both theater and government have many overlapping features; they use old parts and “set” the same old stage for a new production (narrative). This is played over and over in history.  

As a lifelong sculptor, Martin Spei has been collecting and dragging around boxes of parts, mechanisms and remnants. A major element to this work is using the leftovers to recontextualize these materials to explore that the tramoya may change, but the methodology is the same; to create an illusion of trust and belief in the new populous narrative.  
 

The exhibit is currently on display in Alamosa, Colorado at Adams State University. There will be a reception and artist lecture by Spei beginning at 4pm on February 27th.  

If you cannot make it to see the exhibit, but you would like to explore more of Martin Spei's sculpture please click here to see all of Spei's work that we currently have available at GF Contemporary.