Roberto Alvarez Rios’s La roue du destin showcases his surrealist style and incorporation of naturalistic forms, presenting what he called a “living world, without malice.” Alvarez Rios lived and worked in La Ruche, Paris, France. Early in his career, he met artists such as Roberto Matta and André Breton, who tried to recruit him into the Surrealist movement. However, Alvarez Rios preferred to continue developing his art independently.

The piece features vibrant colors and curvaceous shapes that create a dreamlike atmosphere. The central forms resemble both cells and planets, suspended against a deep-blue, cosmic-like background. With appendages extending outward, the main form evokes the appearance of both a living, cell-like organism and a celestial body. The lower section of the artwork includes geometric diagrams that resemble crescent shapes and circular divisions, reminiscent of astronomical charts or scientific schematics. Guided by “positive inspiration,” Alvarez Rios reflects on the origins of life through his surreal vision of the universe. This vision illustrates the interplay between microbial and macrobial organisms, the primordial and celestial realms, reflecting the pulsing rhythm of life within life.