Chechu Álava’s work is included in the group exhibition Fancy Selfies : autodérision, troubles et dévoilements organized by Zoo Galerie in Nantes, France on view from June 16 to September 9, 2023.

Fancy Selfies : autodérision, troubles et dévoilements explores the question of the self-portrait in painting for which Chechu Álava presents Virginal (2022) where she interrogates the relation between the artist and the model.

As the artist says :”This painting refers to so many other paintings in art history where the woman is the object of desire: Olympias, Venus, etc. It also alludes to my own experience of posing as a model when I finished art school in the late 20th century. I did it so I could pay for my studio and paint. Having been on both sides, I paint it with great respect. I also thank the young girl I was then for being able to cross the various boundaries that led me to the ultimate goal: painting.”