Arts

UECLAA artist exhibits in London

Brazilian printmaker and Essex's Artist in Residence, Alex Gama, visited the UK recently to see a selection of his works exhibited in London at an exhibition curated by Gabriela Salgado, curator of the University of Essex Collection of Latin American Art (UECLAA).

The exhibition, held at the Brazilian Embassy's Gallery 32, consisted of 22 works in a variety of media, including a number of abstract prints and drawings all of which are noted for their beauty and elaborate execution.

Gama is one of the most important of UECLAA's donors, with 28 pieces in the collection, and it was Gabriela who selected the works to be exhibited in London. His work has been exhibited in the UK before but only in group shows of UECLAA works here on campus.

It has been the mission of the Brazilian Embassy to promote in the UK the richness and diversity of Brazilian culture and art. As such they have promoted various Brazilian artists and events in recent years of which this exhibition was just one.

During his trip to the UK Gama also produced a new series of prints which went directly to UECLAA. Whilst working at the London Print Studio Gama's unique technique was revealed. Most printmakers use a press but instead Gama uses just a simple wooden spoon applied to the reverse of the paper in order to achieve maximum control of the different pressures necessary.

Gallery welcomes The Architecture of Madness

Leon Ferrari, one of the foremost conceptual artists working in Latin America today, will be showing work in the University Gallery this summer in a show entitled The Architecture of Madness.

Born in Argentina in 1920, Ferrari initially trained as an engineer, only deciding to become an artist in his forties. Since then Ferrari's work has constantly shocked the art world with its debunking of political or religious pomposity. Through irony and humour, the works in this exhibition subtlety suggest a rebellion against ordered society.

At first site the art works, a series of heliographs, look just like architect's plans of ordered environments with city streets, squares and road systems. Yet on closer inspection another world is revealed. The plans are made up of common architect's symbols for people, beds, desks and pathways. However, these symbols soon acquire different meanings. In one plan symbols of people line up to view an empty square, while in another a lecturer reads a paper to a group of toilets and in another hundreds of people struggle to get into the same bed. Through Ferrari's highly personal re-interpretation new and humorous meanings are revealed. Ferrari transgresses the sterile white of the architectural plan and turns it into a chaotic world through a creative hand.

The Architecture of Madness will be at the University Gallery from Thursday 4 July to Saturday 13 July. Admission is free and opening times are as follows: Monday to Friday 11.00am-5.00pm, Saturday 1.00pm-4.30pm.