Tlahuizcalpanteuhtli Ill by Fanie Simon

The circular form radiates from a precise central axis, unfolding in intersecting directions that evoke movement and balance. The title refers to Tlahuizcalpanteuhtli, the Aztec deity of the morning star, embodying light emerging from darkness.

Layers of ash, beech, and oak, with birch bark and subtle touches of gold, create a luminous tension between material texture and celestial geometry. The interplay of direction and reflection captures a moment of transformation. In the instant where night yields to dawn.

Fanie Simon (b. 1986) is a Swiss artist and designer whose practice spans woodworking, furniture design, and visual art. Originally from Basel, she spent several years in Tulum, Mexico, where she developed her interest in designing and building furniture, a path that ultimately led her to the creation of her unique artworks.

Simon describes her pieces as “wood mosaics” or “puzzles,” reflecting her intuitive approach to composition as a form of meditation. She places one piece of wood next to another, often randomly, letting patterns and symmetries emerge organically. In the process of finding balance, she notes a connection to the Rorschach test, revealing her meticulous yet playful engagement with form. Each artwork is a result of weeks of experimentation: starting, reworking, discarding, and reassembling, with the final state often documented photographically before a new iteration begins. Sketches are rare; the work evolves directly through material and intuition.

This artwork was part of THE HOUSE WE CARRY exhibition in November 2025.