February 11 - March 6, 2021
From CAMIBAart:
“The impeccably detailed creations of Daniel Rodríguez Collazo often straddle the line between photorealistic architectural documentation and surrealist futuristic visions. Working in a variety of mediums including charcoal, graphite, acrylic, ink, drywall and more, Daniel’s artworks are consistently inspired by built urban landscapes, often of his hometown of Havana, Cuba.
The Ciudades exhibition presents artworks by Daniel from three visually distinguishable series; Ciudades Infinitas (Infinite Cities), Espacios Inestables (Unstable Spaces), Resonancias (Resonances). In addition to being stylistically unique, each series also presents a distinct approach to appreciating and representing architecture, to rendering contrasts and shapes, and to use of materials.
Exploring his favorite subject matter with his signature stylistic flare, Daniel often develops futuristic structures with superimposed shapes or lines, while other times he explores sculptural materials to reference fragments of building facades, and occasionally he incorporates color to represent abstract architectural realities.
To truly appreciate how these artworks respond to each other, take a moment to visit CAMIBAart Gallery in person to see the Ciudades exhibit installed.
About the artist
Daniel Rodríguez Collazo studied in Havana Cuba at the Academia de Artes Plasticas Eduardo Abela with an emphasis on Engraving. His artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibits in many galleries and venues around the world including Lima, Peru; Madrid, Spain; Berlin, Germany; Turin, Italy; Miami, Florida; New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; Austin, Texas; and of course, his home of Havana, Cuba. Among his many recognitions, he received the First Place award at Arte Sur Batabanó in Mayabeque Cuba in 2012 and in 2013 the Drawing Prize from Salón Playa in Havana Cuba. Daniel continues to create architecturally inspired artworks in his studio in Havana.
About each series in this exhibit:
Ciudades Infinitas (Infinite Cities)
Begun during an artist residency in Peru, Ciudades Infinitas explores the duality of pre-Hispanic Inca civilizations and the footprint of European colonization. In addition to architectural imagery, the series also explores Nazca line drawings and pre-Hispanic Inca objects. These artworks respond to the connection between architecture and humankind: the relationship between materials, humans, and the significance of stones.
Fortaleza del Real Felipe (King Felipe Fortress) is one of two artworks from this series included in the Ciudadesexhibit. Fortaleza del Real Felipe is a representation of the 18th century fortress located in the Callao district of Lima, Peru. The artwork is a composition of both negative and positive images of the fortress, alluding to the character that a military fortress represents. The resulting image presents a defragmentation of the symbolic space, creating a sense of expansion and representing the possessive thinking of colonialism.
Iglesia Matriz del Callao (Callao Cathedral) is a sister artwork to Fortaleza del Real Felipe and is representative of the Neoclassical style cathedral built in 1893. Presented surrealistically in a vertical orientation, Daniel has imagined a structure with movement that expands to both Heaven and Earth.
Together, both of these artworks complete the duality of two powerful colonial forces: religion and military.
Espacios Inestables (Unstable Spaces)
The Espacios Inestables series is indicative of Daniel’s obsession with architecture and the desire to create altered representations of buildings. In this instance, the buildings are considered energy continents. Inspired by real buildings, Daniel renders the structure to scale but also deconstructs it with shapes, lines, and shades all superimposed, creating an abstract surreal photogenic drawing with stunning visual richness and movement.
Resonancias (Resonances)
Created by painting and then carving drywall, the sculptural works presented from the Resonancias series are primarily black and white with an occasional hint of craft paper exposed. According to Daniel, this monochromatic character provides a reality not seen in everyday life and allows the viewer to focus on the negative and the positive relationship created by the arrangement of lines and forms. This relationship creates stark contrasts and results in optical illusions that enhance the viewers impression of the abstracted three-dimensional architectural facades.“
On View: February 11, 2021 | 12–5 pm
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