Art Madrid'24 – COLOURED WOOL FOR A TERRESTRIAL OCEAN

Today we want to focus on artistic proposals that use atypical techniques for their compositions. The ability to surprise in contemporary creation has come in recent times with technology. The incorporation of artificial intelligence, the use of sound and visual algorithms, virtual reality... propose a hybridisation between the artistic and the technological with unpredictable results. But at the same time, many authors choose a return to more crafted and accessible methodologies that require a considerable investment of time but offer a more intimate and respectful connection with the natural environment. In fact, in some of these initiatives, nature becomes the preferred leitmotif in many of these works.

Mulyana, installation “A man, a monster and the sea”, photo by Tarys Hys, 2019.

Among the authors who openly embrace this alternative, Mulyana's work has caught our attention. This Indonesian artist has chosen an alias to identify his work: “The Mogus,” a word formed from Monster and Gurita, the name given to one of his most famous characters: an octopus. This denomination is a clear allusion to the places that it reconstructs in its pieces, typical of the seabed. Indeed, Mulyana has appropriated wool as the main raw material of his work and has dedicated herself to weaving huge marine scenes with endless details and colours. His installations invite us to walk through space as if we were in an oceanographic museum, and we could identify and recognise the multitude of species that live in the depths.

Mulyana, installation “A man, a monster and the sea” in Orange County Museum of Art, 2019.

The Mogus wants to represent through coral reefs the help of the other and the generation of tolerance spaces in a society full of prejudices. These structures are home to many beings that live in harmony and symbiosis under the shelter of these natural constructions. This demonstrates the ability of species to interact in confined environments with respect and harmony. In addition to this, the artist is an octopus lover, whom he always includes in his works, because they represent the human capacity to help others and always lend a hand if necessary. Precisely for that reason, the artist has carried out social integration projects that involve the trans community and domestic workers to provide them with tools and resources that they apply in their day-to-day life.

Mulyana currently has an exhibition at the Orange County Museum of Art, in Santa Ana, California, with a proposal entirely in white that breaks the usual work trend of this creator: "A man, a monster and the sea".

Vanessa Barragão, “Botanical Tapestry”, 2019.

Vanessa Barragão is another artist focused on the representation of the marine environment through the use of knitted yarns and wool. Their pieces are sometimes arranged as water mats that the visitor must travel, or they are posed as hanging elements, to emulate the suspension within the water. The concern of this creator for the care of nature and the fight against some of the most polluting industries on the planet, such as textiles, lead her to reuse all the materials she incorporates into her work. On the other hand, she has chosen themes that serve to denounce the irresponsibility of the sector.

Vanessa Barragão, “Coral Reef”, 2018.

Seeking that society becomes aware of the impact that our daily activity generates in the world, Vanessa has focused on the oceans, which absorb 90% of the total global pollution. In addition to her creative activity, she also directs a textile design studio that strictly follows ecological and sustainable processes in its production.

 

“I paint in a completely free way, I don't have a plan, it's chaotic, but everything has a reason. I don't prepare anything before I start painting, what I paint is what I feel or try to communicate at that moment, so it changes a lot (from one work to another)”.

Chão limpo e o resto. Mixed media on canvas. 2023. Ana Malta. Courtesy of the artist.

Cultura Inquieta once again joins the experience of discovering and celebrating creative talent within the broad spectrum of artistic expressions present at Art Madrid'24. As a supporter of culture and contemporary art, its commitment to promoting and supporting emerging artists is reflected in a special initiative in this edition: highlighting and supporting the work of the REVELATION ARTIST of the 19th edition.

Só durmo na minha almofada. Mixed media on canvas. 2023. Ana Malta. Courtesy of the artist.

In this context, Ana Malta emerges into the contemporary art scene with a fresh voice and her own visual aesthetic. Born in Lisbon in 1996, Malta is a talented visual artist and freelance designer who has captivated the public with her distinctive approach and bold exploration of the beauty of everyday spaces through her investigations of color.

Her studies in Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon, as well as her Master's Degree in Creative Industries Management at the Catholic University of Portugal in Porto, have provided a solid foundation for her artistic practice. Currently, she also collaborates in the Communication and Production Office of Carpintarias de São Lázaro - Centro Cultural e Galeria Belo-Galsterer, showing her commitment to the cultural fabric of her community. She is also part of the artistic collective VÊS.TRÊS.

Ana Malta has been recognized in several platforms and media, including the 14th Edition of QUADRANTE, Melancia Mag and the SCROLL program of the RTP2 channel. Her participation in the book (AS)ARTISTAS - Ensaio Gráfico sobre Histórias e Práticas Artísticas no Feminino and in the April 21st Edition of Nova Awareness Club underlines her impact and relevance in the contemporary art scene.

Só um é que ganha. Mixed media on canvas. 2023. Ana Malta. Courtesy of the artist.

Ana Malta's work is characterized by her exploration of color, patterns, composition, and texture. These elements are not only vehicles of her plastic and visual expression, but also embody an intimate dialogue between aesthetic restlessness and the transformation of error into opportunity.

It is exciting to see Ana Malta make her debut at Art Madrid'24, represented by Galeria São Mamede (STAND B3). Her presence promises to further enrich the artistic experience of the event, inviting the public to approach the visually captivating and conceptually stimulating universe that the artist creates to narrate the chaos she rearranges in shapes and colors.

Não fico pendurada. Mixed media on canvas. 2023. Ana Malta. Courtesy of the artist.

In a world in constant movement, Ana Malta reminds us of the importance of experimentation and continuous exploration in the search for authentic and sincere artistic expression.

Her work has been REVEALED to us in the 19th edition of ART MADRID, thanks to the precise point of view of CULTURA INQUIETA as a testimony of the transforming power of art. In her hands, the entropy of forms brings us the possible memory of an endless summer; the luminosity of the sun becomes the caress of everyday life; we may even be surprised by the formula of happiness turned into a companion animal.

Ana Malta's pieces combines the restlessness of a space that appears to be in a state of chaos with the delicate synesthesia of vibrating at the velocity of light, nuances, lines and colors in her paintings.