selected work.

While employed at a gas station in Amagansett, New York, a seemingly mundane interaction—a customer's payment—unveiled an unexpected discovery: the compelling transformation of color on a receipt, caused by accidental smears of hand sanitizer. Captivated by this phenomenon, Cabrera brought the idea home, weaving rolls of receipt paper into larger sheets. By activating the thermal material with chemicals and pigments, he unveiled imaginative, vibrant realms beneath the uniform white paper. In a convergence of surrealism and abstract expressionism, Cabrera employs unorthodox substances to conjure fantastical worlds from the delicate white paper. Exploring the juncture of these artistic movements, he allows chemical reactions to unfold organically, guiding them to unveil hidden paradises. Through his choice of materials, viewers are prompted to contemplate the interplay of chemicals with contemporary American life, juxtaposing the concealed existences beneath the surface of those residing in an 'American Paradise' with those who seek it through immigration. The series consists of nearly 50 pieces that he completed over the nine years.

 

(Chemical) Paradise was Cabrera's first solo exhibition at the renowned Arts Center at Duck Creek in East Hampton, New York. The exhibition ran for one month, from May 4 to June 2, 2024.