(Interview and intro: Paula. Edition answer: Bethlehem. Photos courtesy of the artist.) During my last visit to Cordoba I found myself in the journal Central to the work of Manuel Coll, a young painter of 28 years native of this city describing his work as "serious mood".
Precisely this style that combines elements of humor, innocence, melancholy and seriousness (a line that characterizes artists like Liniers) is what interested me most of his work and that of some other artists who use this combination in one way or another. I feel that perhaps this mixture of symptoms is a reflection of the times.
In order to know more about Coll, it contacted to bring his work to Buenos Aires for a moment, and this is the result of the conversation we had.
BA Culturemix (BACM): - How much does painting and how to start?
Manuel Coll (MC): Pinto-nine years. I started when I entered the University in 1999. The truth is that previously had little contact with brushes, paints and racks. Not to mention other media such as engraving, sculpture, video and others.
BACM: - How would you describe the theme of your work?
MC: "I see my work as a series of illustrated stories, situations that are intended to reflect on the language. A game between pictures, words and objects that make up a play that question. A while ago I had to write a text for the sample Heart Cordobés in October 2005. It said that my work is described with the phrase "the mood is serious thing," because I believe that humor is a way of thinking, a way to disrupt it established through resources that characterize it as a genre, the absurd, This exaggeration, the irony, as descriptive, synthesis, and so on. These are the same resources I use to produce my pictures, images that do not exactly generate laughter, but rather a dubious grace, a tension between a look that evokes the humor in graphic form and content of poetry, a dye that is philosophically reads the same strain.
BACM: - How difficult is devoted to the art these days in Argentina?
MC: It is difficult. Devoted to the art involves an investment of time and money that does not pay, either economic or symbolic, in the short term. This is undoubtedly complicated to maintain, knowing that a young artist from round cataloged by the thirty-odd. That is, have a record within the circuit of art and its demands a major effort involves a pocket or generous.
Anyway, I believe we have to propose new ways of production, receipt and exchange of art that will allow us to live, and not keep selling paintings, displayed in galleries and museums, sending contests and others. The challenge is also to permit such structures as naturalized. That alone is not achieved, something that artists are accustomed to doing.
BACM: - I was in Cordoba and I was impressed with the new architectural forms that are some of the city, including the Palace Museum Ferreyra. How do you see the scenario of art and creativity in the province?
MC: I see-prosperous, there are many things to do, and this gives projection.
BACM: - Were you born in Cordoba?, What part of town you like most and why?
MC: Yes, I was born in Cordoba capital, on Oct. 24, 1980. In the city I love old neighborhoods such as Alta Cordoba, Cofico, San Vicente, General Paz, El Abasto and the Jockey's Hippodrome, for its architecture, its history, for its nostalgia and broad streets.
BACM: - You spend a Buenos Aires followed?, What part of town is the one you like?
MC:-I once or twice a year. Normally pleasure, but I have participated twice in arteBA, and hung works in the National Hall and the Hall of OSDE. It seems to me a wonderful city. It's like being where everything happens, it's like a great set of movies, and one feels like an actor: how provincial! (laughs). Leads me to be there millions of sensations all at the same time.
For more information about the artist and his work, communicate with him through the mail in his blog.
Comments (4)
Victoria Robles said these words on 23 Jun 08 at 8:01 pmManuel Coll INCREDIBLE is an artist, and very present in the circuit Cordoba, which is not easy in a city without a market for art.
Thanks for letting me know a little more of it!
Santiago said these words on 23 Jun 08 at 11:27 pmNolo big!
meme added these words on 24 Jun 08 at 10:42 a.m.Excellent!
Martin Cruz said these words on 24 Jun 08 at 12:08 p.m.Actually, Cordoban be given pride of this height! We need to know their works ...!
