Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1980, October. Still currently
lives and works in Rio, Brazil.
The Brazilian architect, graduated in architecture and
urbanism in 2005. He started a painting course in 2001 at the artist Christina
Mathia’s studio. In 2009 he continued his research.
His large studio allowed his move from 2D into 3D. With his
sculptures Jacome wanted to explore what he terms ‘the chromatic mass of urban
spaces.’
The piece of Jacome’s which I saw was Planos-pipas n17 at
the Saatchi gallery. It was exhibited in 2013, and its dimensions are variable.
Planos-pipas means kite-planes in Portuguese the artist’s native tongue. It is
made out of tissue paper, bamboo, fiberglass and cotton thread.
Jacome’s planos-pipas/ kite-planes caused a sensation at the
Saatchi gallery’s exhibition – ‘paper’. Jacome got good reviews at the paper exhibition,
although some reviews found the overall exhibition a disappointment.
The exhibition’s purpose was to invite visitors to consider
paper as a medium, and its shrinking relevance within an increasingly digitised
world.
One of the reviews say ‘the life and colour of Jacome’s work
brings to ‘paper’ can only go so far in compensation for an exhibition that is
overall, something of a disappointment. Many of the works… fail to engage with
the subject matter on a deeper level, leaving the challenge to ‘our received
ideas and expectations about paper as a material’ that the show promised,
conspicuous by its absence.
The Saatchi gallery provides no text introducing the show in
its entirety instead; each artist (over 40) is treated individually.
As you enter the gallery space you are forced to confront
the work from a distance and ultimately in its entirety, making it much more
powerful. The piece also draws you in, as the viewer explores it more it transforms
itself. The piece proves that paper has the capability to capture attention.
Jacome’s work dominates Saatchi’s paper exhibition due to
its sheer scale and sophistication. It physically takes over the space, swooping
across the room in a canopy of colour and movement.
Jacome achieves the exhibition’s intentions. Jacome pioneers
paper as a medium to be tested, a medium to be constructed and a medium to be
noticed. The use of bright tissue paper acts as a vehicle of deception in the
piece.
The piece resonates strength in delicacy. I feel it is
delicate because it’s weightless, you can tell that the tissue paper could fall
apart from even a weak force. It looks as though it is being driven by
something or toward something. Yet is also looks very human and temporary.
Jacome treats paper as a sculptural material while retaining
the dynamic and intuitive quality of a drawing. It produces chaotic shapes and
hues. It fills the gallery space with colour and life, lifting the viewer’s
spirits.
He has a playful approach to three dimensionality; his work
occupies the space of drawing, sculpture and architecture without ever quite
belonging in any one category. His work could be described as colourful
collages, objects and installations that question various possibilities in how
an object can occupy the space.
His research focused on the relationship between straight
lines and curves, fullness and emptiness and tension and strain.
Yet colour takes a determinant place in his artistic career,
which also shows in his paintings. There is not much information on his
paintings as the main focus is on his sculptures. He took up painting 8 years
ago. But it is obvious it is the same artist producing his paintings as his
sculptures due to the bright and vivid colours used in both.
He lists his influences as Henri Mattise and Arturo Bispo do
Rosario. Henri Matisse is a French artist known for his use of colour. He was
primarily a painter but he also did printmaking and sculpture. He was initially
labelled a member of the Fauvism movement, but by the 1920s he was seen more as
an upholder of the classical tradition in French painting. He is seen as a
leading figure in modern art.
You can tell straight away why Jacome would be influenced by
Matisse as they both find colour and use so much colour in their works.
Arturo Bispo do Rosario is one of Brazil’s most recognised
artists. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at the age of 29, and so his
art from made in complete isolation from the art establishment. People liked
his work due to its skill and imaginative approach to working with everyday
found materials. He would use objects such as buttons, bottles, paper, card and
cutlery, which he manipulated to create elaborate sculptural pieces.
It is again clear why Bispo is another of Jacome’s
influences, as he also uses everyday materials such as umbrellas in planos-pipas.
Presentation
Feedback
These are the feedback sheets from my tutor and peers:
Strengths:
The strengths which were listed by my tutor and peers were the fact that my presentation was clear as well as clear and colourful images and videos. They said that I kept the audience interested as I kept a good pace and the images were timed well. They said that I used the technology well, as I used a programme called Prezi. They also said that I gave a good critical response and influences of the artist.
Weaknesses:
Some factors which they said I could improve upon would have been more information on colour and why the artist used the colours he did, looking into colour theory. They also said I could have added more context, and why he carried out his work and more on his earlier work and how it might have affected this piece. They also said that I could have looked into the Brazilian art scene, as this would have bound to influence him. Overall my presentation was also too short, as it did not reach the full 10 minutes.
If I were to do my presentation again, I definitely would add more information on his influences and the Brazilian art scene. Although as he is quite a new artist I was not able to find information on why he specifically made this piece. I would have tried to find more information to bulk out my presentation so that it reached the correct length.
