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Statement

Javier Bernal-Arevalo

 

 

 

I'm interested in the belief systems that entice cultures to act in extreme, and perhaps odd ways from anthropological or psychological points of view. I use different materials in the process of materializing the source where this sociological phenomena is evidenced, and I take them to an interconnected aesthetic experience.

 

Coming from a Judeo-Christian tradition of guilt and expiation, the pain, passion and sacrifice has taken an important part of my relationship with the mystery of being alive; the supreme path of purification from a cultural and mystical angle.

These works are based in myths, stories or personal experiences that have appeal for their strong content. I center my practice in art languages dubbed as anachronistic in some certain contexts, in which painting becomes a reflection on the loss of Identity within the Colombian Cultural tradition, away from criticisms to the state of art today.

 

Lately I have found inspiration in stories from my homeland, and specially from the imagery present in the native ceramics from Boyaca Colombia. These ceramics were once popular for their almost “substandard” quality but also because they represented the idiosyncrasy of our culture. But lately they also show the progressive loss of singularity, as they are becoming more simple touristic items lacking the local value that once made them so unique.

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CV

 

 

 

EDUCATION:

- MA FINE ART at Central Saint Martins UAL (London, UK) 2013-2015

- BFA in ARTS University Tadeo Lozano (COLOMBIA) 2002

- Escuela Estudio XXI Drama. 1997-1999

- Javeriana University (Colombia) Industrial Design and Visual Arts. 1991-1997


 

SELECTED SHOWS:

SOLO:

“Composite Sketches” Artbo week 100 Drawings and Video Animation. Cinema Tonala, Bogotá, Colombia 2017

“Composite Sketches” 100 Drawings and Video Animation. Laznia Contemporary Art Center, Gdansk, Poland 2017

“Restitution”. 600 Drawings and Animation. Flora Ars+Natura, Bogota, Col 2013;

“Momentum”. Painting 217 Drawings Animation. Museo de la Independencia, Casa del Florero, Bogota Col 2012,

“Periplus” Paintings. Galeria Esquina Itinerante, Bogota Col 2012; 1201Gallery Bogota Col 2011;

“Miradas” Painting and Drawing. Artroom Galeria, Bogota Colombia 2007. 


 


 

GROUP SHOWS:

“Composite Sketches” 100 drawings and Animation, Cinemateca Distrital, Bogotá, Colombia 2017;

“Momentum” Drawings and Animation. Kino Babylon, Berlin, Germany 2017;

“Meztisajes” Drawings. Katapult Galerie, Basel Switzerland, 2016;

“Granfalloon” Painting, Animation Installation. Granary Building Central Saint Martins, London UK 2015;

Possible portrait of a lost boy 15 years later. Painting. ArtWorks Project Space - Barbican Arts Group Trust, London UK, 2014; Barge House. London UK 2014;

“Meteor” 100 drawings and animation. Fundación Gilberto Alzate Avendaño, Bogotá Colombia 2012;

“Miradas” Drawings. "La otra” Art Fair 2008 Col, 2008.


 


 

SCHOLARSHIPS PRIZES & RELATED

- Finalist at the Fonca National residences award (Mexico)

- Composite Sketches. Cineautopsia- first Prize Animation. Bogotá 2017

- Barbican Art Works Open. (Painting/Drawing) Selected for a group exhibitation in London UK

- Winner National Excellence Professional Awards “Colfuturo” and Ministry of Culture of Colombia,

to study atCentral Saint Martins UAL UK 2013

- Restitution. Winner National Residence Awards, Flora Ars+Natura, Honda Colombia, 2013,

- Momentum. Winner National Open Call “History Interventions” National Museum of Independence (Casa del Florero) 2012

- Meteor 91 days. Winner of a Honorable Mention in the 2nd Biennale of Art of Bogotá 2012

- Meteor 91 days. Chosen for the in the 2nd Biennale of Art of Bogotá 2012

- Rapunzel. Karrvaz (UNESCO) scholarship artists residence Alcala del Jucar (Spain) 2009

- Liquid Mother. Salon nacional de artistas (The great mediatic painting) 2007

- Arrithmeosis art video 2001, First place university contest equinoxio. 2001

- Arrithmeosis art video 2001 Out of contest, Bogota film festival 2001

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