Backroom Caracas is pleased to announce the opening of the installation Cruzando Orillas [Crossing Borders] by artist Consuelo Méndez. The exhibition proposes the construction of a close and intimate space—although very open to whoever comes close—, where Consuelo will show her notebooks for the first time: a compendium of diaries, annotations, plans, projects, classes, quotations, drawings, paintings, and collages that mark the timeline of its creator, from 1976 to 2014. In addition, the artist will perform an action in which she will share a unique moment of symbolic reading, using several very special decks of cards, with the assistants who wish to participate. Cruzando Orillas will collect 104 pieces that make up a “bank of memories” that Consuelo uses and needs. The notebooks are also artist-books that begin full of textuality and slowly allow image and color to gain space. On the other hand, the act of offering a personal and intimate moment to the visitor completes the generous gesture of the artist.
The installation will open next Sunday, November 30, from 11 AM to 4 PM. The artist will be present Thursdays and Fridays (3 – 6 PM), Saturdays and Sundays (12 – 4 PM) in the exhibition space of Backroom Caracas.
Consuelo Méndez (Caracas, 1952) obtained a Bachelor’s degree (1974) and a Master’s degree in Visual Arts (1976) in California, USA. She belonged to the group Mujeres Muralistas of San Francisco, California, until 1976. She graduated from the Centro de Artes Gráficas in Caracas (1981). Since 1991 she has been an associate professor and researcher at the Instituto Armando Reverón and now a retired professor of UNEARTES. She was part of the practical and critical Master’s program on Contemporary visual representation systems, offered by IUESAPAR (2002).
She has been honored for her work by the TAGA Miniatures Biennial (2004), the Salón Michelena (1983,1981), the Municipal Prize for Visual Arts in Caracas (1984), the Graphic Biennial of Maracaibo (1990), and received an Honorable Mention at the TAGA Biennial of Graphic Miniatures (2004, 1990,1982).
She has been invited to teach at the International Courses of Expression, Communication and Psychomotricity at the Escuela del Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, Spain (2006, 2000, 1997, 1996, 1995).
She has participated in numerous exhibitions in countries such as South Korea, Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, Colombia, USA, Cuba, Mexico, and Poland.
She maintains ongoing work in the visual arts: painting, drawing, and graphic arts, at the same time showing special interest in the elaboration of artist books and works on paper. The relationship between body and fine arts becomes more and more relevant in her personal expression and pedagogy, setting the tone for her creative research process. She also develops a pedagogical practice that integrates therapy and the arts.
She belongs to the Pielforma group, a body-arts research laboratory, having presented individual performances at the Korean Foundation Cultural Center (Seoul, 2009). She was Guest Artist at Jóvenes con FIA, Corpbanca (Caracas, 2009). Her work has been featured at Centro Cultural Chacao (Caracas, 2009), Galería de Arte Nacional (Caracas, 2007, 2004, 2003), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (Caracas, 2012, 2006), Museo de Los Teques, First World Meeting of Body Art (2006), Velada de Santa Lucía (Maracaibo, 2012, 2008, 2006), Centro de Artes de Maracaibo Lía Bermúdez (2007); Museo Alejandro Otero (Caracas, 2005, 2003), Museo Carmelo Fernández (San Felipe, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004), CELARG (Caracas, 2002, 2001); Maracay Perfor-Art Festival (1999), Museo de Bellas Artes (Caracas, 2008, 1999), Hatillo Arts Festival (1998).
THIS MIGHT INTEREST YOU
Consuelo Méndez speaks about her exhibition Cruzando Orillas at Backroom Caracas [in Spanish].
The Codices of Consuelo Méndez, by Carmen Alicia Di Pasquale.
Anatomy of a Scene: La vaguada [The Trough], an art action by Consuelo Méndez.
