AndrĂŠ Mendes
In a world in which information is constantly crossing boundaries, it is crucial to pay attention to how fast young talented visual artists have been incorporating formal, stylistic and pictorial elements to their work. André Mendes is one such case. To me, one the of most interesting aspects of his body of work is an unpretentious affirmation of a tradition genuinely born out of a kind of freedom that is almost sarcastic in the way the artist uses his skills as painter and drawer. One needs only to remember André’s many public and private murals in order to grasp his impressive technique. They are executed in both ceramics and new industrial techniques he creates and develops himself. Always aware of the many different kinds of painting styles, specific methods, scenes and tendencies in the art world today, Mendes draws, manipulates and organizes the elements in his works with such ability that it allows him a “deliberate” use of pictorial language, a natural procedure that stands between the commitment to conceptual research and a purely aesthetic experience. His gaze skilfully knows and recognizes a great part of the extensive modern pictorial tradition, even provocatively better than many more experienced and renowned artists today. His contact with art from an early age, or maybe the times he has lived abroad in Spain, France and Australia, or maybe even his many trips to different parts of Europe, where he has had the chance to see in person the works of many of his favourite artists, like Tapiés, have most certainly contributed to his education as an artist. Luckily for us, however, despite his great ability with form, Andre is not a lazy artist, he does not settle for what he knows and masters. On the contrary, he is restless, active, apprehensive, all qualities that I think every good artist must have. In the fight between balancing and letting go, fixing and breaking the limits of the frame, in the position and disposition of colours and shapes, Andrés’s recent work has presented us with a conceptual characteristic that is essential to every artist’s body of work and, the way I see it, it is not only worth appreciating his art and his talent, it also ennobles us, as spectators, his much deserved success. Tony Camargo / Artist
ELEMENTARES_ The next artworks were presented in the following exhibition: * Elementares 2012 / Museum of Contempory Art of Paraná / Curitba - Brazil * About the Museum of Contempory Art of Paraná: In addition to maintaining the collection of over 1,300 works, the museum’s mission is to promote the creation of contemporary art and engage in artistic exchange with national and estrangeiras1. The most traditional event organized by the museum is the Hall Paranaense, the only exhibition of its kind that has remained unbroken in Brazil, besides being the oldest.
Starts from the plasticity of paint and its behavior - So of André’s Mendes search the form that arises from plastic viscosity which carries the color, and features seductive objects that look the same organic ink, and that makes no gesture of time, but that solidifies, invigorating discussion drawing x painting. The creative impulse of André’s works can be translated by the words of Cezzane, “performed the color in its richness the form comes in its fullness.” At the insistence of chance encounters the color control on the impeccable surface.
Deborah Bruel
2012 | pintura 3 | resĂne on PS 2mm | 138x240 cm
2012 | pintura 6 | resĂne on PS 2mm | 230x170cm
2012 | pintura 1 | resĂne on PS 2mm | 156x156 cm
2012 | pintura 5 | resĂne on PS 2mm | 180x258 cm
2012 | pintura 2 | resĂne on PS 2mm | 236x160cm
COLORFLOW_ The next artworks were presented in the following exhibitions: * ColorFlow 2012 / RAS Gallery / Barcelona - Spain * Art Expo Malaysia 2012 / Embassy of Brazil Booth / Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia * AndrĂŠ Mendes Solo 2012 / Guido Viaro Museum/ Curitiba - Brazil
The contact with the last works of Andre Mendes surprise the viewer when its various masses of colors create a space inhabited by brush strokes, floating spaces in which the various layers overlap creating a field immersion to the viewer. The strong and intense colors create a dynamic intense gaze for who remains before the paintings. It is difficult to distinguish what comes before and what comes after, but this holds the viewer and creates an immersive situation. In this tangle of brush strokes and layers of paint the eyes fill with situations imaginable. His choices of colors and gestures demonstrate the work developed by years of studio and reminds us of the great classics of painting, without deluding ourselves by reference, its particularity is well marked by gestures, color palette and imagery references contemporary art is his work as his work is art. His paintings suggest a referral to contemporary painting.
Ana Rocha
2013 | Rain | acrylic on canvas | 180x160 cm
2013 | acrylic and oil bar on canvas | 155x165 cm
2013 | Nua | acrylic on canvas | 90x90 cm
2013 | Hidden in the Jungle | acrylic on canvas | 100x150 cm
2013 | acrylic on canvas | 155x165 cm
2013 | MangueTown | acrylic on canvas | 90x90 cm
2012 | colorflow | acrylic and oil on canvas | 155x165 cm
2012 | colorflow II | acrylic and oil on canvas | 140x150 cm
2012 | Caution | acrylic and oil bar on canvas | 160x170 cm
2012 | Vicking | acrylic and oil bar on canvas | 160x170 cm
Kuala Lumpur | 2012 | acrylic and oil on canvas | 180x130 cm
Pileta | 2012 | acrylic on canvas | 180x100 cm
THE BIG WALL This artworkt is part of the Urbain Gallery Project created by Brookfield Inc. and curated by ROJO art Barcelona. This is a 45x35 m wall situaded in Curitiba Brasil. It is the bigest mural in the state of ParanĂĄ and one of the bigest of Brazil. AndrĂŠ Mendes 2011-2012 Acrylic paint on building 45x35 m
45 metros
35 metros
COLORES_ The next artworks were presented in the following exhibition: * AndrĂŠ Mendes Solo Exhibition 2011/ Galeria Zilda Fraletti / Curitiba - Brazil
Here we have an artist who insists on painting - the emphasis is also a trait revolutionary art I say insists, not in the sense as stubbornly resist against renewing trends, but in the sense of obstinacy, that it makes his craft very hard ... as a level of stubbornness is advantageous, especially essential to the artist. Here AndrĂŠ Mendes presents a series of works that invites us to feel the vibrancy of colors and the way it behaves in our eyes. B. L.
2011 / Acrylic on canvas / 150x280 cm /
2011 / Acrylic on canvas / 140x150 cm
2011 / Acrylic and spray on canvas / 100x180 cm
2011 / Acrylic and spray on canvas / 150x140 cm
2011 / Acrylic on canvas / 133x188 cm
2011 / Acrylic and spray on canvas / 133x188 cm
2011 / Acrylic on canvas / 140X150 cm
2011 / Acrylic on canvas / 133x188 cm
TRANSIÇÃO 2010
2010 / acrylic on canvas / 140X150 cm
2010 / acrylic on canvas / 100X80 cm
2010 / acrylic and oil bar on canvas / 140X150 cm
2010 / acrylic and oil bar on canvas / 140X150 cm
2010 / acrylic and oil bar on canvas / 140x150 cm
DESCONSTRUÇÃO_ The next artworks were presented in the following exhibition: * André Mendes Solo Exhibition 2009 / Espaço Cultural BRDE / Curitiba - Brazil
In the fight between balancing and letting go, fixing and breaking the limits of the frame, in the position and disposition of colours and shapes, AndrÊs’s recent work has presented us with a conceptual characteristic that is essential to every artist’s body of work and, the way I see it, it is not only worth appreciating his art and his talent, it also ennobles us, as spectators, his much deserved success. Tony Camargo / Artist
2009 / mixed tecnic on canvas / 58x78 cm
2009 / mixed tecnic on canvas / 58x78 cm
2009 / mixed tecnic on paper / 30x40 cm
2009 / mixed tecnic on canvas / 58x78 cm
2009 / acrylic and oil bar on canvas / 58x78 cm
2009 / acrylic on canvas / 100x180 cm
2009 / acrylic on canvas / 180x100 cm
2009 / mixed tecnic on paper / 30x40 cm
TRACE_ The next artworks were presented in the following exhibition: * AndrĂŠ Mendes Solo Exhibition 2006 / Porto Sfera / O Porto - Portugal
2006 / Acrylic on canvas / 92x70 cm
2006 / Acrylic on canvas / 92x70 cm
2006 / Acrylic on canvas / 120x150 cm
2006 / Acrylic on canvas / 80x110 cm
2006 / Acrylic on canvas / 70x90 cm
André Rondinelli de Almeida Mendes
Rua Marechal Hermes, 491, ap. 602 | CEP 80530 230 - Curitiba | PR | Brazil + 55 41 9994 2608 | + 55 41 3387 3229 mendes.andy@gmail.com www.andre-mendes.com / andremendesart.tumblr.com
Education
2011 Advanced Painting III - UFPR / Federal University of Paraná | Curitiba - Brazil 2008 Metal Engraving - Solar do Barão | Curitiba - Brazil 2004 Drawing Expertise - IDEP Image and Design School | Barcelona - Spain 1999 - 2003 Degree in Graphic Design - PUC/PR | Curitiba - Brazil
Exhibition Record * solo shows marked by asterisk
2013 Salon of Contempory Art of Ponta Grossa - Brazil - **First Price National Salon of Art - Itajaí - SC - Brazil *André Mendes Solo / Galeria Zilda Fraletti / Curitiba - Brazil Art Expo Malaysia / Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia
2012 *Falando de Arte / Museu Guido Viaro / Curitiba - Brazil Art Expo Malaysia / Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Elementares - André Mendes e Fernando Franciosi / Museu de Arte Contemporânea do Paraná MAC-PR / Curitiba - Brazil ColorFlow - André Mendes e Rimon Guimarães / Galeria RAS / Barcelona - Spain
2011 *Urban Gallery / Brookfiel Incorporations / Curitiba - Brazil Águas do Amanhã / MON - Museu Oscar Niemeyer / Curitiba - Brazil
*COLORES / Galeria Zilda Fraletti / Curitiba - Brazil MOB + ART BICICLE and MOBILITY / Solar do Barão / Curitiba - Brazil
2010
Estado da Arte / 40 years of Contempory Art in the State of Paraná Coletivo Interlux Arte Livre MON - Museu Oscar Niemeyer / Curitiba - Brazil Self Portrait / Casa Andrade Muricy / Curitiba - Brazil
2009 *Deconstruction / Espaço Cultural BRDE / Curitiba - Brasil
2006 *Traços / Porto Esfera / Porto - Portugal
V Bienal Vento Sul / Projeto Grade Sobre Grade Coletivo Interlux Arte Livre Memorial de Curitiba / Curitiba - Brazil
VIII Salão Graciosa de Artes Plásticas / *First Price - Curitiba - Brasil
Pratas da Casa / Galeria Ludica / Curitiba - Brazil SkateArt / SkateRIP / Digital Entertainment Jam / Milano - Italy SktaeArt / SkateRIP / FAD / Barcelona - Spain IN_VERSOS / Estreita Galeria / Curitiba - Brazil
2008
Cicloviáerea / Cooperation on Jarbas Lopes Project CCSP / São Paulo - Brazil SINTOMAS / Centro Cultural Solar do Barão Museu da Gravura Cidade de Curitiba / Curitiba - Brazil Underground Galleries / Curitiba - Brazil Coletivo Interlux Arte Livre Art in Circulation / Caixa Cultural / Curitba - Brazil Coletivo Interlux Arte Livre
2007
Cow Parade / Curitiba - Brazil IX Salão Graciosa de Artes Plásticas / Curitiba - Brasil MOB - Art Bicicle and MObility / Centro Cultural São Lourenço Curitiba - Brazil
2005
Marionnetes / Bordeaux - France
2004
Collective IDEP / IDEP Image and Design School / Barcelona - Spain Mostra DBJO / Valentina / Barcelona - Spain
AndrĂŠ Mendes
+55 41 9994 2608 mendes.andy@gmail.com andremendesart.tumblr.com