Pilar Mehlis

Studio WingWear is modeled after the wing wear of Hermes, a deity in ancient Greek

mythology. Among other titles he is considered the protector of human travelers. He is able to

move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine, aided by

his winged sandals and helmet.

As a child I moved from La Paz, Bolivia to Whitehorse Yukon and I have been migrating

between the two countries most of my life.

My art practice has largely focused on the idea of human and animal migrations and

immigration. I work in drawing, painting and sculpture.

For examples of my work please see:

https://www.pilarmehlis.ca/image/avianima/avianima_iii_2 https://www.pilarmehlis.ca/image/i_belong_here_paintings/ichthyology_a_go_go https://www.pilarmehlis.ca/image/current_interloper_sculptures/antrofish_grouping_sample_ii

I had a scheduled solo exhibition in La Paz, Bolivia in June of this year but unfortunately Covid

19 happened and it is all on hold until further notice.

The exhibition was to include twenty-eight anthropomorphic bird sculptures. For this submission

I looked around my studio and found wing making material, a helmet in my earthquake kit and

my studio sandals. I proceeded to make Studio Wingwear as a way to express my yearning to

be free to travel between countries easily and fearlessly especially during these troubled times.

Winged Footwear: Studio crocs size 8, armature wire, wire mesh, paper, acrylic gels. 2020

Winged Hardhat: Safety hardhat, adjustable size, armature wire, wire mesh, papers, and acrylic

gels. 2020

www.pilarmehlis.ca