"This exhibition offers a collaborative escape into a fantasy realm unbound from generative technology. Scenes in an illusory world conceived by the human mind's creative spark and born from the technical expertise of skilled human hands. It is a world limited only by the time it takes to create it; rather than being hastily crafted with computers, this world has been meticulously developed by hand over the course of hours and days.
 

          Elliana Esquivel and Chris Nichol are not Ai converts.
They prefer a hands-on approach, intending for their creations to reflect the mental and physical challenges inherent in the act of making. In a time dominated by artificial intelligence, they fear the decline of genuine artistic expression and question if there is still room for those who dedicate themselves to creating in a world increasingly influenced by Al.
 

          The worlds they create, much like the spaces in which
they work, are not defined by the presence of generative technology. Their characters, landscapes, and surreal situations harken back to a time of tangible experiences and natural existence.
 

          Elliana Esquivel is a self-taught, multidisciplinary artist
whose minimalistic works explore social and psychological aspects of human life. Delving into themes of identity, survival, personal agency, social unease, and introspection, her artworks are vehicles for navigating through chaos in search of meaning.
 

          Chris Nichol is a multi-media visual artist dedicated to
the manual practice of drawing, painting, and sculpture. His pieces often satirize modern society, offering a form of escapism through peculiar world-building and exaggerated perspectives."
 

- University of North Carolina Charlotte Art Galleries