rodrigo canala Portfolio

rodrigo canala
Portfolio
www.canala.cl
curriculum vitae
Rodrigo Canala (Santiago, 1972)
Artist living and working in Santiago, Chile. He holds
the degree of Master of Arts majored in Visual Arts from
the UCh, Santiago; a degree of Licentiate in Fine Arts
from UFT, Santiago; and studied architecture at UVM, Viña
del Mar, Chile. He has exhibited his work in Australia,
Brazil, Colombia, Korea, Chile, Spain and the United
States highlighting the following: Deco, Patricia Ready
Gallery, Santiago (2012)*; Analogy of opposites, Sala de
Arte CCU (2012–2011); Traveling light: five artists from
Chile, AMA Museum, Washington, D.C. (2011); The dark
radiant life, CeAC, Santiago (2011); Indian green, MNBA,
Mall Plaza Vespucio Gallery, Santiago and Mall Plaza
Trébol Gallery, Concepción (2012–2011); Diamond hollow,
Tajamar Gallery, Santiago (2011)*; Signs, edges, gaps,
YONO Gallery, Santiago (2011)*; Black sparkles, Centro
Gallery, Talca (2011)*; Contaminations contemporary,
MAC USP, Sao Paulo (2010); Light material: five artists
from Santiago, Chile travelling light, VCA Margaret
Lawrence Gallery, Melbourne (2009); Pattern–Suite, Die
Ecke Gallery, Santiago (2007)*; Stgo/Bog/Stgo. Sending
chilean contemporary art, Valenzuela Klenner Gallery,
Bogotá (2007); 5th biennial of visual arts. Pocket
Utopias, MNBA, Santiago (2006); Chilean contemporary
art. From the other site/place, MAC, Santiago and NMCA,
Seul (2006-2005); Eden, Artespacio Gallery, Santiago
(2004)*. He also has received several awards including:
nominee for AMA Scholarship, Gasworks International
Residency Programme (England, 2012, 2011, 2010); nominee
for Altazor Prize for the Arts National (Chile, 2007);
Fondart, CNCA (Chile, 2009, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2000,
1999); Friends of Art Scholarship (Chile, 1999). In
parallel, he teaches in different undergraduate art
schools. He is also co-founder of Taller BLOC, Chile, an
studio for production, education and promotion of visual
arts (www.tallerbloc.cl).
* Solo shows.
work
In my work, which is generally volumetric and occasionally
graphic, I mostly use “ignoble”, ordinary or inexpensive
materials (electric bulb, metallic glitter, chipboard,
graph paper, spray paint, domestic dust). Through
beautifying processes, these materials achieve a delicate
and illusory appearance. Often, my works are accompanied
by electric and/or electro-mechanical devices that give
them a mobility that emphasizing such illusionism.
On the one hand based on local popular iconography
(pastiche architecture, television set decorations,
kermis or trashy aesthetics) and on the other hand, on
artistic references such as op-art, kinetic art, abstract
and constructivist art, I apply designs and patterns that
are usually geometric and decorative (fences, garlands,
flourishes, sparkles). Ultimately, the works reveal
their structural frugality and precariousness, even
though they have a certain ornamental ostentation; they
are fully and ironically exposed and yet, at the same
time, they are objects of seduction and contemplation.
I believe my work generates in the spectator a combination
of stillness and expectation, or what I have called
an “optical inertia”. It is captivating, hypnotic and
“beautiful”, and at the same time a provocative or
threatening image that, in the end, conceals a parody-like
criticism of contingency that tends towards spectacle
and exclusion that is manifest not only in the everyday
and the mass media but also in art itself.
4
crown #2 (RADAR)
2012
Defense frost metallic silver coated
aluminum bracket and rotating on its
axis (electromechanical movement),
chipboard, galvanized screws and power
cord (base: electrical circuit).
113.5 x 25 x 25 cm.
5
crown #2 (radar), 2012
6
crown #2 (radar) (detail), 2012
7
shield, mirror,
banner #1
(series)
2011–2012
Enamel “hammered” silver and black
ink on chipboard.
151 x 101 cm.
8
shield, mirror, banner #2 (series), 2011–2012
9
shield, mirror, banner #3 (series),
2011–2012
shield, mirror, banner #4 (series),
2011–2012
10
signal
2011
Chipboard, galvanized screws and faders (pole and
base), current incandescent bulbs and sparkling
chrome, earthenware lamp, electric cable and
electrical box zincalum (sequential circuit)
gravillada paint black, silver ink.
237 x 117 x 117 cm.
Signs, edges, gaps, YONO Gallery, Santiago, Chile.
11
signal, 2011
12
signal (detail), 2011
13
diamond hollow
2011
Black spray paint on glass (exterior).
Dimensions variable.
Diamond hollow, Tajamar Gallery,
Santiago, Chile.
14
diamond hollow (details), 2011
15
deco (wall–louver)
(series)
2011
Black ink, silver ink and graphite on
graph paper.
32.5 x 21.5 cm.
16
deco (grid–sparkle)
(series), 2011
deco (shield–sparkle)
(series), 2011
17
deco (treillage–reflex)
(series), 2011
deco (lockup–jalousie)
(series), 2011
18
deco (present–mirror)
(series), 2011
deco (mirror–parament)
(series), 2011
19
christmas motif
(fences) #3
(series)
2011
Black ink, silver ink and graphite on
graph paper.
29.7 x 21 cm.
20
christmas motif (fences) #2
(series), 2011
christmas motif (fences) #5
(series), 2011
21
christmas motif (fences) #1
(series), 2011
christmas motif (fences) #4
(series), 2011
22
empty pennants
2010
PVC sheet trimmed and coated with
silver metallic glitter.
Dimensions variable.
Signs, edges, gaps, YONO Gallery,
Santiago, Chile, 2011.
23
empty pennants (detail), 2010
Signs, edges, gaps, YONO Gallery, Santiago, Chile, 2011
24
empty pennants, 2010
Traveling Light, Five Artists from Chile, AMA Museum, Washington DC, United States, 2011
25
empty pennants, 2010
Traveling Light, Five Artists from Chile, AMA Museum, Washington DC, United States, 2011
26
sparkles flashing,
frame, defense
2010
Black ink, silver ink and graphite on
graph paper.
32.5 x 21.5 cm.
27
parament
2007
Chipboard, galvanized screws and faders (gate),
black synthetic velvet and lace (flags), flashing
incandescent bulbs, plastic socket, electrical
wire and galvanized electrical box (sequential
circuit), silver PVC fabric, various objects.
280 x 857 x 138 cm.
Pattern-Suite, Die Ecke Gallery, Santiago, Chile.
28
parament, 2007
29
parament (detail), 2007
30
t.f.p.
2007
Domestic dust on wall.
Dimensions variable.
Pattern–Suite, Die Ecke Gallery,
Santiago, Chile.
31
t.f.p. (details), 2007
32
he, the motherland
(detail)
2006
Chipboard and galvanized screws (stool and
bracket), turbines and electric motors, steel
brackets,
painted
polyester
resin
(hands
castings) and lashing steel wire wall and floor
(electromechanical movement), electrical wire and
metal electrical box (drive frequency circuit).
200 x 570 x 200 cm (approx).
5th Biennial of Visual Arts. Pocket Utopias,
National Museum of Fine Arts, Santiago, Chile.
33
he, the motherland (details), 2006
34
he, the motherland (details), 2006
35
he, the motherland, 2006
36
he, the motherland, 2006
37
crown
2006
Defense coated with golden metallic
glitter, screws, concrete.
20 x 44 x 13 cm.
38
crown (detail), 2006
39
false ceiling
2004
Silver metallized polyester film (awning), chipboard,
galvanized screws, plastic buckets and concrete
(pillars and bases), flashing incandescent bulbs,
plastic socket, electrical wire and galvanized
electrical box (sequential circuit), speakers
emitting laugh track loop (audio), deck chairs.
240 x 500 x 715 cm.
False, Cultural Center from Spain, Santiago, Chile.
40
black hole
2002
Drilling and graphite on wall.
232 x 339 cm.
Common Sense,Balmaceda 1215 Gallery,
Santiago, Chile.
41
black hole (detail), 2002
42
black hole (detail), 2002
bibliography
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www.canala.cl