| Centro Cultural Español. Two exhibitions. Nine Artists |
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Centro Cultural Español (CCE) has expanded beyond the boundaries of Coral Gables into Wynwood Art District. During December, the center will be presenting two exhibitions at the same time, showing international artists in two different locations in Miami. Bonds Bonds is an exhibition by Japanese and Spanish artists that explores one aspect of contemporary art: the appropriation of symbols from distant cultures. Bonds conveys how the artists use the symbols devoid of meanings in order to interpret them on one hand, from their own cultural contexts and on the other hand, from their own creative mind. That combination of cultural backgrounds and personal universe elicits both new works and the broadening of the meanings. The symbols presented in this exhibition are recognized as icons in their respective Western and Eastern cultures: the Catholic iconography (Saints, Pietá and Virgins), the Age of Enlightenment (books, atlas, encyclopaedia) and the Japanese traditions (zen gardens, origami and kimonos).  The guest artists are Noriko Ambe and Ten+Goku from Japan, and Isabel Ulzurrun, David Rodríguez Caballero and Carlos Pascual from Spain. Noriko Ambe’s elegant and delicate artworks reference geological strata and imaginary landscapes. Ambe’s artworks are always made out of paper. By manipulating layers of paper she invents geographies with a dramatic varnish. For her, the process is as important as the final work. Sometimes she uses white Japanese paper while others she cuts objects like newspapers, books, atlases, etc. Ten+Goku, is a collaborative duo formed by sculptor Sacré Nobi and photographer Hajime Watanabe. They both use catholic iconography in their works, orientalizing it in some way, changing their original meaning. The two Cibachromes in the exhibition, My Pietá and The Tokyo Madonna were exhibited in 1999 for the first time. My Pietá depicts one of Sacré Nobi’s main subjects. As a child he had the opportunity to see Michelangelo’s 1499 Pieta at the World Fair in Queens, NY. Shortly after, he moved to Japan and visited the Ryoanji gardens in Kyoto. In the eyes of a six-year-old, Pietá and the garden merged in a single vision: a mountain on a sea of stones. The Tokyo Madonna emerged when they were taking photos of the Pietá. Although this piece is one of the most representative Western icons, its gesture (showing the back of the figure) can imply different meanings. Sacré Nobi and Hajime Watanabe often feel that works of art are an opportunity for viewers to construct their own meaning, and this piece turned out to be perfect for that. Isabel Ulzurrun re-interprets the kimono in her sculptural dresses; however, the final product is far from the original functions and forms of the traditional Japanese costume, since her interventions depart from Western techniques and materials. This artist manipulates the fabrics (raffia, linen, muslin) treating them like books where she put fictional stories about the couture world. Ulzurrum displays two pieces in this exhibition: in Private space NY (2005) she keeps working in the idea of larger-than-life Western kimonos. On the other hand, in Capita de miedo (II)/ Resting defense (II) (2005), the artist has created a sculpture that resembles a samurai armour, however, her intention is actually to portrait - in a poetic way. - a device to protect against fear. The works of David Rodríguez Caballero refer to the Japanese garden and the origami tradition from an iconoclastic perspective. The distinctive aspect of this Spanish artist is the use of industrial materials, the geometry and the pictorial treatment by using tri dimensional elements. Rodríguez Caballero’s works allow him - departing from painting - to establish a dialogue between East and West. The works by Carlos Pascual reference Postminimalism as well as certain Oriental concepts like the ritual repetition of a gesture. This artist paints canvases with irregular formats so they can be easily integrated to the exhibition space becoming active, thus, modifying the surroundings. Carlos Pascual’s paintings are both a search of the oriental essence and certain attitudes derived from Minimal Art. This exhibition is curated by Ana Vázquez, and David Rodríguez Caballero, a curatorial team from Spain. It comes from The ISE Cultural Foundation in New York, where it was selected by the Program of Emerging Curator and was exhibited between September 16th and November 5th, 2005. As a part of the project in Miami, a round table on “Artists and curators: two faces of the same coin” will take place on Wednesday, December 7th at 7:30 p.m. Clima X The CCE, in collaboration with Goldman Properties, is presenting Clima X, an exhibit by Spanish art collective Jus d’art. The exhibition will open to the public from November 12th through December 15th. Artist in Jus d’art are Sabala, F.M.G. (El Ferrol) and Serrano Blanes. Their installation is based on ideas about life and climate. The exhibition is composed by two bodies of work: The one coming from their recent exhibition in the old church Ex-Teresa Arte Actual in Mexico called Negativo en Positivo, and the work in progress created in situ and originally conceived for the space in Miami. This exhibit, commissioned by Pepa Villalba, extends into other mediums including video, performance, and dance. Clima X includes four large triptychs and three large pieces on fabric. In each one; the fabrics serve as a creative starting point for the work in situ. The group Jus d’art was created at the beginning of 2003 after more than 20 years of intense creative activity by each artist individually. After having completed degrees in the Fine Arts College of Barcelona in the 80’s, each one stepped in his own artistic career developing individual styles. Painting has maintained an intimate relationship with their lives. Creating and living in the same space has been a constant for all three artists regardless of where they have worked and lived. Sabala has developed her own world from her ingenuity and humor, where the formal values of painting and female themes come together. The female body appears in her works as a symbol of a goddess; silhouettes with two eyes, subtle gestures and qualities, garments and attitudes. Serrano, interested from the beginning in social conflicts, has developed a powerful language over the years, where color, lines and forms shape the message. The sober visual richness is captivating. F.M.G is inspired by his own cognitive drive. His art belong to the world of thoughts; his images are mental and respond to a concern with the real world. His interest in transcending reality has lead him to create a very personal world of forms. In the summer of 2004, Sabala, F.M.G. and Serrano made their public debut under the name Jus d’art with an exhibit at the Fundación Angels Planels de Blanes after having lived together for a year on a farm/Studio in Masdenverge. And there is where the idea of creating with Native material came from. The, they begin by using the trunks of trees gathered in the Delta of the Ebro River as raw materials for sculptures. At the end of October 2004, the group traveled to Cuba. The influences quickly manifested in their new works with the introduction of caribbean colors, music, landscape and personal experiences. They are now presenting Clima X in Miami, where multiculturality is common place among the art scene. Welcome Jus d’arts! Clima X (Wynwood Art District) 448 NW 28th St. & 2750 NW 3rd Ave. Centro Cultural Español 800 Douglas Road, # 170 305.448.9677 www.ccemiami.org |
