  FEDERICO URIBE BOTEROFIFTH SEASON MAGAZINE/ArtEcologico/2011 The Chelsea Art Museum, Home of the Miotte Foundation, is pleased to present Federico Uribe: Pencilism. This is a follow up to Uribe's Human Nature exhibition at CAM, sponsored by PUMA, in 2007. Pencilism is a reflection on the interaction between material, technique and art history. "The color pencil, a simple utilitarian object but with direct references to creation and childhood, becomes the material of my paintings and sculptures," says Uribe. "With an embroidery-like technique of studding, I have created art works that depict my emotional landscape and force the viewer to re-envision how the pencil and the creation process are perceived." Uribe's current exhibition showcases a body of work that focuses on myth and myth making, with art historical references influenced by the work of artists like Goya and biblical references such as the Angel Michael. Catholic iconography is used throughout Uribe's work to tell a very personal story. From his early work in painting, Uribe evolved into a sculptor, first using found objects like baby bottle nipples, coins and screws, along with industrial cleaning products and things gathered in street markets. The color, form, texture and symbolism of these objects created a potent combination which established Uribe's reputation as a contemporary conceptual artist whose hybrid work still defies classification. Uribe's art-making is a labor-intensive, repetitive and almost compulsive process essential in order to re-envision how the human body and these ordinary objects of today's culture are perceived. By recombining in such an obsessive manner, Uribe introduces irony into both the technique and the meaning of the work, with a fresh and radical association of materials and ideas. He induces the metamorphosis of items used in daily life into a new object that has a different significance, appearance and texture. Once the viewer gets past the 'wow' factor of the work, it seduces and entices them to physically experience and complete the work by interacting with it in a personal way. Federico Uribe, born in Colombia, lives and works in Miami, FL. His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows in galleries and museums in North America, South America and Europe. Related Links: |
