EWE STUDIO
Ateliers Courbet is pleased to announce the inaugural U.S. solo exhibition for Mexico City-based design atelier EWE Studio, opening May 14, 2025, at New York's master craftsmen gallery (Ateliers Courbet, 134 10th Avenue, NY, NY 10011). EWE and Courbet will unveil a new series of sculptural pieces — an exploration of ancestral metallurgy techniques drawing inspiration from Mesoamerican traditional metalworks and artifacts dating back 3,000 years to pre-Hispanic civilizations. The collection expands upon EWE Studio's comprehensive body of work and mission to foster, further develop and honor the ongoing master craftsmanship legacy of Mexico.
Founded in 2017 by Age Salajõe, Manuel Bañó, and Héctor Esrawe, EWE actively supports its team of master artisans and local ateliers. The collaborative studio and its artisan collaborators create pieces anchored in cultural heritage through their concept, materiality, and craftsmanship details and by researching, experimenting, and developing time-honored techniques with innovative technology.
Focusing on metalsmithing, the exhibition features a sculptural coffee table, a console, and a mirror crafted by blacksmiths and bronzesmiths from EWE's collaborative art foundry in Puebla, Mexico. Paying tribute to Purépecha metallurgy and pre-Hispanic technologies, each piece draws from ancestral knowledge of metal casting and stonework passed down through generations. The works employ an ancient sand casting technique where impressions are created in packed, fine sand into which molten metal is poured directly. This centuries-old method, nearly identical to processes used by early Mesoamerican metalsmiths for ceremonial copper and bronze objects, creates distinctive organic textures impossible to replicate through industrial production. Each sculptural element is then paired with hand-carved volcanic stone bases, completing these contemporary interpretations of ancient craftsmanship.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is a monumental wall mirror, taking its form from the copper Tajadero chopping knives, once used as standardized currency in Central Mexico. The mirror merges polished stainless steel with bronze accents, creating a striking silhouette that honors its ancient inspiration. The mirror's surface intentionally references the profound cultural significance mirrors held in Mesoamerican tradition, where they were revered as portals to communicate with supernatural entities.
The new series of work emphasizes EWE Studio's commitment to sharing and supporting Mexico's artistry and rich cultural legacy through conscientious research into historical processes and experimental material explorations. Bridging their ancestral heritage to the present, EWE's contemporary design pieces are crafted using time-honored techniques passed down through generations.
