Monday, June 28, 2010

"Master Prints" relief prints by nicaraguan artist Carlos Barberena

Expressions Graphics Gallery Presents:
"Master Prints" Relief Prints by Carlos Barberena.
Opening Reception: July 16th, 6:00PM - 9:00PM.
July 1 - July 31, 2010.

La McMona
"La McMona" Print by Carlos Barberena.

“Master-Prints”
In this series I employ the process of appropriating and varying “Master Pieces of Art,” using at times both their titles and compositional strategies but inserting contemporary imagery to create new works.

These pieces reflect contemporary issues such as environmental pollution, exploitation of natural resources, human rights issues, violence, labor rights, wars, and the use and abuse of power.

My selection of master pieces was not entirely random: with most, I chose pieces which reflected contemporary issues during the period in which they were produced. I researched the ideas behind each artist’s piece, the ways in which each artist dealt with the contradictions and hypocrisy of these issues.

Then in some, I inserted contemporary issues into them that fit with the complex imagery of each. In others, where the message of the work was particularly clear and widely understood, I introduced new, contradictory ideas.

Carlos Barberena is a Nicaraguan visual artist based in Oak Park IL. He has had solo shows in Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua and The United States of America, and his work has been shown in important Art Fairs, Art Biennials, Museums and Galleries in many places including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

He has created many installations in public spaces in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Venezuela and his work was selected to represent Nicaragua in the XIII Art Salon: Identity Imprint: A Glance at Ibero-American Printmaking at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC. And in the III World Body Art Conference in Venezuela.

His artistic work has been published in almanacs and Christmas cards benefiting Costa Rican children. He has also participated in art auctions benefiting Nicaraguan children and Nicaraguan Printmaking in Bonn, Germany, He also illustrated a book for children published in Vienna, Austria.

He has received various awards, most notably the award- poster for the Ecology and Human Rights in Banana Plantations in Costa Rica, given by GEBANA in Berlin, Germany.

His work is included in private and public collections, among them The International Exlibriscentrum, Stedelijke Museum in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, the Lia Bermudez Museum in Venezuela, The Printmaking Workshop (Taller de Formación y Producción Gráfica), in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, the National Gallery (Galeria Nacional) of Costa Rica, the Cultural Museum of the Caribbean (Museo Cultural del Caribe) in Venezuela, the Praxis Gallery in Nicaragua.

Gallery Hours only for this Event:

Wed - Thu - Fri -Saturday 1-5 PM or by appointment. *3rd Friday 1-9PM*

Our gallery is run by Volunteers: Please call ahead to insure we’re open. 708-386-3552

Expressions Graphics
29 Harrison St. Oak Park, IL 60304


Expressions Graphics is a not for profit printmaking group partially funded by the OPAAC, in partnership with the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest, and the IAC, a state agency, also its members and Northern Trust Bank.

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