Rafael Bertone soon painting in our Kunst Jam Session.
OLD SKULL
Rafael Bertone. 2011
Felt-tipped pen acrylic on wood
29 x 69 cm
#ONTHEVERGECREW
1#ON THE VERGE CREW EDITION FOR: KUNST SCHIMMER ART FAIR #2
OLD SKULL
Rafael Bertone. 2011
Felt-tipped pen acrylic on wood
29 x 69 cm
#ONTHEVERGECREW — mit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/rafabertone" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=545278940&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3Anull%7D">Rafael Bertone</a>.
We are a working group of artists each of us with a unique style of creativity from different generations, most of us from Spain, living and working in Madrid and Barcelona. In spite of our different styles and schooling, most of us have coincided during our training at many exhibitions, projects and art events. But this is the first time we have decided to create a collective project called ON THE VERGE-ILLUSTRATION ART & DESIGN CREW managed by Mapy D.H. and team member Jota, to introduce our work in the KUNST SCHIMMER ART FAIR #2. THE CURRENT ISSUE EQUATION: LACK OF MEANS = PLENTY SOLUTION by Mapy D.H. Writing the statement speech for this project is suddenly becoming a real nightmare. I´ve never been a curator and don´t pretend to be one. There are no main concepts or subjects that link together our exhibitions other than our desire to show our art with the lack of means that we have but with the best ways and intentions, and to show ourselves to the world. ON THE VERGE is a project trying to bring it's artists work, regardless of their style to the audience. The condition that the art world finds itself in Spain is pathetic (due to today's political, social and economic climate). There are plenty of good artworks and many talented artists. We have a great deal of exhibitions and events but unfortunately there´s not too much support for the artist, and practically we have to survive on our own to keep producing, showing and even getting on with our lives, some of us are unemployed. Luckily, as Albert Einstein said: “There is a driving force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy: the will”. Will to work is what we have, it is also said that bad times sharpens the inventiveness and sometimes the results are amazing. I remember a visit to Patricia Mateo's studio where I asked her 'Why do you paint on mirrors? expecting some rhetorical or twisted reply from a typical curator "metaphysics is the mirror image of matter that is not like the shadows in the myth of Plato's cave blah…. blah… blah." Instead she simply said: "well it's because I was looking for a surface that wouldn't absorb so much paint.” For me knowing this fact didn't mean that I just saw her work as something produced accidentally as a result of attempting to save paint. On the contrary, I enjoyed it more. This is an example of what I hope the spectator will experience from our space at the show. The more artists I get know and the more I know about their lives, the more passionate I feel about the art world. ON THE VERGE is a project without an expiry date. It´s totally open to any suggestions or proposals (curators, art galleries, etc). This is not a closed working group, we are not the only artists exhibiting at this first show. Anybody can join this project. Any artist, illustrator, designer, etc , that wishes to join our group is welcome. We will try to keep this project going, to exhibit and show whenever and wherever we are invited it is feasible to do so. We have been supported by Cecilia Espejo to participate in the KUNST SCHIMMER ART FAIR #2. We want to sincerely thank her. We truly admire her hard and good work. I would also like to thank all the artists that took part with their effort, help and excitement. Without them, none of this would have any meaning.
