Pan American Art Projects

“Primary Colors” will be our summer exhibition and we are bringing out bright and fun pieces from our vast inventory to celebrate the season.  Among the exhibited works are sculptures by Argentineans Carolina Sardi and Hernan Dompe, Cuban Carlos Gonzalez and American William Cannings; and paintings by American Joe Ramiro Garcia, Jamaican Milton George and Cuban Luis Enrique Camejo.

Carolina Sardi’s metal assemblages are witty combinations of color inspired by nature. These organic shapes, grouped in apparently repeating clusters, are representations of the concept of infinite. This is reinforced by the endless possibilities of combinations in each assemblage. Her minimalist approach is making possible for us to concentrate on the forms. Carolina is ‘talking’ about her personal experiences, transported to metal in her very own and personal code.

Hernan Dompe is represented by a couple of totems. This is a series in which he has been working on for a while and is focused on the traditional totemic forms. In these particular pieces he is making reference to the genesis of mankind. The title, La edad de Hierro (Iron Age), is a direct reference to this statement.  In this series he is representing the three more important metals:  iron, cooper and bronze; as a way of representing the social progress of humanity.

Carlos Gonzalez is bringing his dynamic sculptures in vivid colors, a rare treat since he uses mostly metallic tones. His sculptures are inspired by the potential that the material offers: his incredible respect for it leads him to create these highly original forms. The sensuality of some of his pieces is reinforced by a polished finish. Very often his work tends towards a monumental scale, making it suitable for outdoors or public spaces.

William Cannings’ pieces looks like toys inciting the public to touch and feel the material, which is never what they think. After this initial reaction we start to discover what is behind all the fun, and that is his intentional manipulated use of perception.  Although undoubtedly in debt to Pop Art, Cannings’ work is a fresh approach to this type of art. His brilliant beach balls, pillows and lifesavers reflect his mischievous side, masking a more profound message.

Joe Ramiro Garcia brings to the exhibition his playful paintings in which he mixes fragments of his life experience with cartoon characters. The dazzling compositions have a strong humorous component, and while that jumps out, there are some more serious underlying aspects. He is bringing up in what seems a child-like mode complicated associations to his background.  Using elements referring to his own childhood he is parodying that stage, hence the presence of characters such as teddy bears and Felix the cat as direct references. Ultimately Joe Ramiro is talking about the complexity of life for contemporary man.

Milton George’s pieces have a narrative quality. His very bright and almost pure colors are entwined with the intricate story behind each of them. The complexity of his compositions integrates his unique forms into the scenes to the point that it looks almost homogeneous. Milton was a story teller and each of his paintings is inspired by actual facts, mostly about domestic issues and his relationships with women.

Luis Camejo’s realistic and almost photographic urban landscapes are monochromatic. In some instances he uses black and white combinations but usually he goes to more extreme experiments with colors, solving his compositions in muted blues or reds. Most of his views are inspired by Havana, however he also portrays other cities. His cityscapes are inspired by his daily life in Havana, and in a way this is his tribute to the city: while other artists are showing the decadence that prevails, he chooses to portray its beauty.