Helpmann Academy Exhibition ! ~ Exposición

I'm happy to announce that a few original pieces of "What grows with trees" will be exhibited (for sale) at the HELPMANN ACADEMY SPRING, ART & FASHION LUNCH! You are invited to attend this special event on Thursday, September 20, at the InterContinental Hotel, Adelaide Ballroom! In the meantime I'd like to share this preview with you :)

Con mucha emoción les cuento que algunas imágenes originales de "¿Qué crece con los árboles?" estarán expuestas y a la venta en el HELPMANN ACADEMY SPRING, ART & FASHION LUNCH! Si están en Adelaide, están cordialmente invitados el jueves 20 de Septiembre, en el InterContinental Hotel! Mientras tanto les comparto esta muestra :)

PASSAGES - Opening / Apertura

Seedling Art Space

October 02, 2011

CHANGING PASSAGES
Text by Carlos Alberto Manrique Clavijo, September 2011

"(…) to exist is to change, to change is to mature,
to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly." [1]

Throughout her career, emerging artist Ana María Méndez Salgado has been exploring several interconnected concepts and fragments of her worldview through diverse media and techniques. Her curiosity about memory and identity has been nurtured by her interest in
the relationships between images and story-telling
while being constantly shaped by her own experiences as a migrant.

Within this context, her concern for transforming "memories into experiences, and experiences into objects", as she explains it, is reborn as the visceral need for making sense of a world in which sense is not necessarily something to be found, and less so, rationalised:
"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent." [2]

In "Passages", the artist explores some of these concepts through an installation in a corrugated iron "pump shed". Within it, four digital screens display a looped, short-experimental animation surrounded by translucent prints of the animation frames which at the same time are stitched to handmade fibrous paper squares hanging on the walls.

In the words of the artist, "the animation, main piece of the exhibition, intends to illustrate the journey of the seed as it moves from one state to the other, passing through water, wind, fire and earth, while being used as a metaphor for new beginnings and constant regeneration." This 'passing through', is not to be only understood within the physical connotation of moving from one place to another but also as a process of transformation between states of being.
"A passage is a journey that symbolises movement, motion, transition,
development and more importantly: Change. (…)
[They are] episodes of time and verbs in action (…) so they are best portrayed by loops of moving, breathing images", explains Ana María.

The animation has four sections that tell a story of incubation, birth, evolution and transmutation in each one of them. Thus, she uses archetypal symbols that connect the four classical elements with the cardinal directions and the four seasons, while representing the stages of human growth, the steps involved in the creative process and the psychological and spiritual stages in a migrant's journey within four scenes of the animation. The art-making practice becomes a ritual where the artist connects with the mystical and in which moments in time are blurred into a continuum: "(…)" the abolition of time by the imitation of the archetypes and the repetition of the paradigmatic exploits.
(…) all sacrifices repeat the original sacrifice and coexist with it.
(…) through the paradox of rites, the profane time and duration are then suspended." [3]

But regardless of this timelessness, 'Being' is not something static; it is in motion. Being IS motion. But motion is not something that can be analysed and encompassed by reason. Hence, surrounding the screens, the small prints are frames within frames: analogies to the contrast between the tangible, real and organic fibres of life surrounding our virtual, technology mediated present. But furthermore, these static snapshots are opposed to the flow of images in motion, evidencing a strong influence of the notions of time and movement as understood by french philosopher Henri Bergson. By watching the animation, we flow with it, we happen and endure with it and thus, we get to an intuitive knowledge of what it embodies. But the mind is not always satisfied by this. And to be able to analyse and compare, it dismembers what life is (duration and movement) and freezes it into 'spatialised time': fragments of movement -which are not movement anymore- that can be placed next to one another and be compared.

Finally, the enclosing shed is a symbolic threshold between the physical exterior and the mental or spiritual interior. It becomes a 'container' in which one is invited to question one-self and muse on the nature of change since Ana María's art work is, in the end,
more about posing questions than dictating answers.

[1] Bergson, Henri, "Creative Evolution",
translated by Arthur Mitchell, New York, Henry Holt and Company, 1911, chapter I.
[2] Wittgenstein, Ludwig, "Tractatus logico philosophicus",
translated by C. K. Ogden, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & CO., LTD., London, 1922.
[3] Eliade, Mircea, "El Mito Del Eterno Retorno",
translated by Ricardo Anaya, Emecé, Buenos Aires, 2001.

The artist would like to thank Rob Farnan, David Colebatch, Jo Wilmott, Riyadh Abdoul Abdul-Hussain Gelawe, Lydia De Wolf, Geraldine Pope, Michael "Fazz" Farrell, Sam Hardy,
Carlos A. Manrique Clavijo, the Seedling Art Space commitee
and the support of Adelaide friends and art commiunity.

Acknowledgements:
The artist wishes to dedicate this artwork to her grandparents,
Salatiel Augusto Salgado and Irma Farías.

Photographs by Riyadh Abdoul Abdul-Hussain Gelawe

PASSAGES: Installation and conversation / Instalación y conversación

And if you don't mind me asking... Why did you come to Australia?...
Y si no le molesta mi atrevimiento... ¿Usted por qué vino a Australia?...

What was it that made you leave your country?
¿Qué le hizo abandonar su país?

I looked at the gentle blue eyes and thought: "...I truly can't explain it any more!"
Me quedé mirándole esos ojos gentiles y azules y pensé:
"...honestamente ya no puedo explicarlo!"

We came, we left, we returned, we stayed.
Vinimos, nos fuimos, regresamos, nos quedamos.

It all started like a Walkabout. It still is.
Todo comenzó como un Walkabout, un ritual de paso. Todavía es.

Just like in Passages, I would have to study the fragments of my life, see myself and...
Como en Pasajes, tendría que estudiarme los fragmentos de la vida, verme y...

...describe who I was and why: an incomplete definition.
...describir quién era y por qué: una definición incompleta.

The whole is unexplainable, the pieces can't be quiet and still.
El total es indescifrable, las piezas no logran estar calladas ni quietas.

They ask, they never answer.
Ellas preguntan, nunca responden.

So the walkabout is being walked. And I am here.
El ritual de paso se está recorriendo. Y yo estoy aquí.

Existing in transition
En transición, existiendo.

Photographs by Carlos A. Marnique C.

PASSAGES: The table! / La mesa! :)

Quise incluir estas imágenes porque también hicieron parte del proceso! Debajo de esta mesa pusimos la batería para los marcos digitales de la instalación. Pero el trayecto a pie, en el que generalmente nos nos demoramos 20 minutos desde la estación del tren hasta la galería, nos tomó UNA HORA!!! Mesa pesada y todo, esta es una de esas anécdotas que transforman la experiencia creativa en algo más real y tangible. Al siguiente día nos dolía todo... Todo por amor al arte!!! ...arte efímero, pero no tan efímero, como nosotros. Fue chistoso :)

I wanted to include these images because they also are part of the process! Under this table we decided to put the battery that would provide power to the digital picture frames in the installation. But the path from the train station to the gallery, that usually takes us 20 minutes to walk, took us ONE HOUR this time!!! Heavy table and all, this is one of those anecdotes capable of transforming the creative experience into something real and tangible. The next day everything ached... because of art!!! ...ephemeral art, just like us, not so ephemeral after all. It was fun :)

Photographs by Carlos A. Manrique C. and Ana M. Méndez S.

PASSAGES: Thank you! / Gracias!

Quiero agradecerles por el apoyo, la buena energía y la dulce compañía.
El trayecto no hubiera sido tan enriquecedor sin ustedes.
Gracias Neil, Geraldine, Fazz, Zoe, Kahlo, Jo, Catherine, Regina, Manal, Riyadh,
Sam, Suzanne, Dawn, Caroline, Diana, Kara, Yasir, y todos los otros nombres que no puedo recordar,
por venir y estar ahí, al otro lado del teléfono roto que es el arte.
Gracias Carlitos por prestarme tu tiempo, tus brazos, tus oídos, tu corazón.
Gracias abuelitos por sembrar las primeras semillas y por ese cariño que llega y llena.
Fué importante tener sus nombres impresos viajando por las manos de mi presente.
Que los pasajes compartidos sigan siendo muchos.
-Ana.

©2011 Photo courtesy of Carlos A. Manrique C.


I want to thank everyone for the support, amazing energy and wonderful company.
This experience wouldn't have been as enriching without you.
Thank you Neil, Geraldine, Fazz, Zoe, Kahlo, Jo, Catherine, Regina, Manal, Riyadh,
Sam, Suzanne, Dawn, Caroline, Diana, Kara, Yasir,
and all those other important friends and colleagues that I can't remember,
for visiting and being there, at the other side of this broken phone that art is meant to be.
Thank you Carlos for lending me your time, your hands, your ears and your heart.
Thank you grandparents, for planting the firsts seeds
and for that love that is capable of coming close and filling in the gap of time and space that separate us.
It was important to have your printed names travelling along the hands of my present.
To all of you a big thank you.
May we share many other Passages together.
-Ana.

The Pump Shed - Seedling Art Space

Preparing everything for the opening... interesting place for an animation installation!
It's been a very challenging and enjoyable experience so far.
Hope to see you there!
:) Ana
...

"PASSAGES" - incubation, birth, growth, transmutation.

Art, nature, wine, food and music! Family and kids welcome :)

Opening on Sunday October 2, from 4pm to 6pm
Seedling Art Space - The Pump Shed
Blackwood forest recreation park.
cnr main rd & turners ave. Hawthorndene.

For more information on how to get there, please check the link below:
http://www.seedlingartspace.asn.au/contact.htm
Trains to Belair every hour on Sunday (from Adelaide 2:55pm to Coromandel 3:21pm)

I invite you to "Passages" - Opening: Sunday 2 Oct, 4pm

Trains to Belair every hour!
from Adelaide: 2:55 pm - to Coromandel: 3:21 pm
Link: Seedling Art Space - location

Passages: 02/10/2011

Passages
experimental animation installation
Oct 2 (opening: 4-6 pm)

Seedlings Artspace - The Pump Shed
Blackwood Forest Recreation Park, Corner Main Road & Turners Avenue,
Hawthorndene, SA 5051

I've been working on an animation for an exhibition coming soon! It's been a while since I last used Flash and I'm getting used to it again. The animation is short, clumsy and colourful...
and I can't wait to share it with you all! :)

He estado trabajando en una animación para exponer pronto! Hacía un buen tiempo que no usaba Flash, así que me estoy volviendo a acostumbrar. La animación es cortica, torpe y llena de colores...
y me muero por compartírselas! :)

And a last breakfast with Scattered Reveries!

Some costumers of the cafe having a delicious breakfast last Saturday.
MY SISTER and WHAT GROWS WITH TREES? accompanying them... mmm!

(Photographs: courtesy of Carlos Manrique)


Algunos clientes del café desayunando el Sábado pasado.
MI HERMANA y ¿QUÉ CRECE CON LOS ÁRBOLES? acompañándolos... mmm!

Café & Water... the artist's book, el libro-arte!

Departure (1st part of tryptic: Fragmented Adventures)
Partida (1ra parte del tríptico: Aventuras Fragmentadas)

This artist's book was finished in 2008. It describes my experience as a migrant, including the preparation for the trip, the arrival, and firs impressions. Creating it was part of the journey!
I loved the fact that many people were able to touch it and read it at the exhibition... I wish I had remembered to put a visitor's book somewhere to see what they thought about it! Oh well, next time!
Este libro arte se terminó en el 2008. Describe mis pensamientos como emigrante, narrando la preparación del viaje, la llegada y las primeras impresiones. Realizarlo resultó ser parte de la experiencia.
Me encantó saber que muchas personas pudieran acercarse, tocarlo y leerlo en la exposición... Si tan solo me hubiera acordado de poner un cuadernito para recibir los apuntes de los visitantes! Bueno, queda pendiente para la próxima!

Algunas imagenes de la expo... Some images from the exhibition...

My Sister (Tittle of picture book)


Café & Water (pages and artist's book)


Purple Tree (Árbol morado) & Ladybug (Mariquita)


River rat (Ratita de río), Tortoises (Tortugas) & Pelican (Pelícano)


Window (Ventana) & Gestating (Gestando)