
Rafael Domenech Cuba/USA, 1989
laser print on various paper
11 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 2 1/2 in
In his Tiling Collages, Rafael Domenech embarks on a transformative exploration of the everyday, reimagining the discarded remnants of his studio—old papers, printed images, and artist books—into intricate, three-dimensional mosaics. These materials, drawn from various sources, come together in compositions that balance chaos and precision, reflecting the organic evolution of cities through constant processes of addition and subtraction.
Inspired by the writings of urban theorist Richard Sennett, particularly his reflections on borders, peripheries, and the edges that define urban landscapes, Domenech’s work examines how these boundaries function within art. For him, the edges of
his collages echo the fluidity and rigidity of city borders, emphasizing how they shape movement, growth, and identity.
Domenech challenges traditional concepts of artistic materials by using industrial supplies, elevating everyday objects into something of artistic significance. This choice imbues his work with a sense of the mundane, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through these mosaic-like creations, Domenech reveals beauty in the discarded, offering a reflective view of the material and immaterial fragments that shape our lives.