Josignacio

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Josignacio

Jose Ignacio Sanchez Rius
Born (1963-10-24) 24 October 1963
Havana, Cuba
Nationality Cuban
Field Abstract Expressionism, Abstract art, Painting
Movement Contemporary art "Cuban Generation of the 80's"
Works The 3 O'clock, Red Fish, The Virtual Key, Rhapsody Blue, Plastic Paint Medium
Awards Hortt38 Best In Show, 1st Place in EVMCC '79 and '80

Jose Ignacio Sanchez Rius, better known as Josignacio, is a contemporary Cuban artist who is associated with neo-figurative and abstract painting.

Born in Havana, Cuba, on October 24, 1963, he has resided in the USA since 1989. Josignacio is one of the artists of the controversial "La Generacion de los 80" (The 80's Generation), which includes José Bedia Valdés, Humberto Castro, Rubén Torres Llorca, and Tomás Sánchez, among others. Some of his artwork is currently available on display at the Laura Brunetti Art Gallery located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida as well as online at artnet.

In 1984, he created The Plastic Paint Medium, a technique consisting of the use of epoxy resins as an "agglutinating medium" and "pigments" as colorants, obtaining a real plastic finish with a new visual effect.

Josignacio currently resides in Miami Beach, Florida.

Early life

Josignacio came from a family of intellectuals and was surrounded by a vast collection of paintings. During his youth his home looked more like a museum than a place to dwell. There had been many family friends who visited regularly. Among them were painters such as Roberto Fabelo, René Portocarrero, Amelia Peláez, Felipe Lopez, Mariano Rodriguez "El Gallego Posada" and Gilberto Marino.

Josignacio learning from René Portocarrero and Sandú Darié. Galeria Habana during Portocarrero's 80 birthday. (1982)

During these visits these painters taught Josignacio new methods and painting techniques. Notably, in one of Josignacio's interviews, he had been asked "when did you begin to paint?" His reply was: "I do not recall when; it had been a part of my daily life like everything else." Among his teachers his talent as a future painter was obvious, and in 1983 he went presented himself to the admissions test at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA). Out of the many who tested, he was one of the few to pass. Overjoyed with the news, Josignacio shaved his head, stating "new life, new hair." When he came to school to attend the Dean banned him from the premises and from attending because they interpreted his head shaving as protest against the government. One of Josignacio's teachers, Consuelo Castaneda, also had been banned from the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) because of having a punk hairstyle.

Josignacio (far right) with Andres Ugalde and Martinez Anay. (1984)

This turn of destiny gave Josignacio an obsession to learning all related with art, art history and to be the best in his field. After being banned, his challenge and goal was to beat ISA graduates in every sense possible.

In 1984 working as a helping hand for Martinez Anay and Andres Ugalde in the making of a big mural painting for the Military Patriotic Educational Society known as Sociedad de Educación Patriótico-Militar (SEPMI) (the Cuban version of the Boy Scouts). This agency had been directed by Cuban Cosmonaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez. It was during this time Josignacio accidentally discovered that mixing epoxy resin with oil paintings was an excellent medium to paint with.

This new medium took him two years to develop and master. When he was ready his Uncle Gerardo got him his first personal exhibition at the Artistic and Literary Lyceum of the city of Regla on March 2, 1987. This was the first time that a complete paintings exhibition was made with only the plastic paint medium and had been displayed worldwide. Since then his artwork had been on display at more than 20 exhibitions before finally being invited to exhibit his art in Mexico City on May 10, 1989.

With no explanation being given to him, all his planned shows at The Gallery of the National Auditorium and Los Talleres de Coyoacán were cancelled by orders of the Cuban embassy in Mexico City. After this turning point, he made the decision to come to the USA on September 14, 1989 and has resided there since then. Josignacio is an American Citizen.

Influences

Since his youth Josignacio has been influenced by the abstract expressionists of the New York School; however, Karel Appel and Wassily Kandinsky have had a special focus. In his childhood Josignacio had been more motivated by color than by forms, a distinguishing factor in his artwork that was often noted among his peers and family. The only exception to his art was his self-portrait, which he did according to academic style. In his first exhibition, his entire collection of paintings were all abstracts. It was from this point of time that his future as an abstract/neo-figurative painter had been decided.

Social causes and charity work

Josignacio has contributed to social causes. Most recently Josignacio is known for raising funds for the 2010 Haiti earthquake victims. For both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Andrew, Josignacio helped raise funds for the victims. In 1992 after Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida he organized an auction with more than 100 Cuban painters for victims of the tragedy. In the early 90's Josignacio helped raise funds for AIDS organizations such as "The Project Genesis." Since 1996 Josignacio has helped raise funds for the Miami Children's Hospital. His most recent donation was to Hedge Funds Care, an international charity, whose sole mission is preventing and treating child abuse and supported largely by the hedge fund industry.

Awards

  • 1979 - Awarded first prize in painting at the Escuela Vocacional Militar Camilo Cienfuegos de Guanabacoa, Havana.
  • 1980 - Awarded first prize in painting at the Escuela Vocacional Militar Camilo Cienfuegos de Guanabacoa, Havana.
  • 1996 - Awarded the "Best in Show Prize" at Hortt 38 jury art show exhibition at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
  • 2000 - Titled the "Chief Painter of lle lfe" for the best interpretation through color of the Yoruba Religion.

Documentary

  • 1988 - "Concierto Sentido" with Cuban musician José María Vitier
  • 2006 - "La Pintura Cubana" by Art Work Productions, Director Roberto J. Cayuso.
  • 2008 - "Josignacio: Las Formas del Color" by Art Work Productions, Director Roberto J. Cayuso.
  • 2010 - "Josignacio: The Master of Colors" by Calico Productions. Director is Daniel Urdanivia.

Gallery

  • Josignacio, Red Fish, 2007, Plastic Paint Medium on Wood, 54 x 101 in.

  • Josignacio, The 3 O'clock, 1995, Plastic Paint Medium on Jute, Dualism Series, 60 x 48 in, Private Collection Miami.

  • Josignacio, Rhapsody Blue, 2007, Plastic Paint Medium on Wood, Abstract Series, 108 x 60 in, Private Collection Miami.

  • Josignacio, The Virtual Key, 1993, Plastic Paint Medium on Canvas, Dualism Series, 36 x 72 in, Private Collection Miami.

  • Josignacio, Red Line, 1989, Plastic Paint Medium on Wood, Abstract Series, Private Collection Miami.

Exhibitions

  • 1988- Salon de la Ciudad in Havana, Cuba.
  • 1996- Art Palm Beach, represented by Ramiro Casanas Gallery located in Palm Beach, Florida.
  • 1996- "Josignacio" at Domingo Padron Gallery in Coral Gables, Florida
  • 1996- "Josignacio" at Alfredo Martinez Gallery
  • 1996 - Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Florida Hortt 38
  • 1997 - "Live Collages" at Risk Night Club organized by Ingrid Casares and Chris Paciello.
  • 1997 - "The Miami Clowns" at Risk Night Club organized by Ingrid Casares and Chris Paciello.
  • 1997 - "Marihuana" at Risk Night Club organized by Ingrid Casares and Chris Paciello.
  • 1997 - "Hot Sex at Your own Risk" at Risk Night Club organized by Ingrid Casares and Chris Paciello.
  • 1997 - "Liquid Sex" at Liquid Night Club organized by Ingrid Casares and Chris Paciello.
  • 1991 to 2007 - Art Miami
  • 2007 - "Collages and Things" at Mario Fine Arts Gallery in Miami, Florida.
  • 2007 - "Music for Pisces" at the Gallery of Regions Bank in Coral Gables, Florida.
  • 2009 - "Saint Michael de Archangel" at Hialeah Park RaceTrack re-opening in Hialeah, Florida.
  • 2010 - "Josignacio: The Master of Colors" exhibition previewing the artworks appearing in the documentary of the same title at the Surf Club in Surfside, Florida.

Additional exhibitions

From 1987 to 1989 Josignacio had his artwork on display at the following Galleries for exhibition:

  • Galeria del Liceo Artistico y Literario de Regla
  • Galeria San Miguel del Padron
  • Galeria de la Casa del Joven Creador
  • Galeria del Palacio del Segundo Cabo
  • Galeria del Karl Marx
  • Galeria del teatro Mella
  • Centro de Exposiciones Pabellon Cuba
  • Galeria de la Casa de la Cultura de Plaza
  • Galeria del Comité Estatal de Finanzas
  • La Casona, Sede del Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Cuban National Ballet)
  • Galeria del Fondo Cubano de Vienes Culturales
  • Galeria del Café Teatro Bretch

Writings and Essays

  • 1987 - "Josignacio" by Dr. Jose Antonio Portoundo (renowned Cuban Intellectual), Havana, Cuba
  • 1988 - "Josignacio y sus juegos de resinas" (Josignacio and his Resin Games) by Dr. Antonio Núñez Jiménez (renowned Cuban academic), Havana, Cuba
  • 1988 - "El Torbellino Cromatico en la Obra de Josignacio" (Tornados Chromatic in Josignacio's Artworks) by Lisandro Otero (Cuban novelist), Havana, Cuba
  • 1988 - "La Magia de Josignacio" (Josignacio's Magic) by Miguel Cabrera, Historian of Cuban National Ballet, Havana, Cuba
  • 1989 - "Josignacio es una revolucion dentro de la revolucion" (Josignacio is a Revolution Inside the Revolution) by Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez Havana, Cuba
  • 1991 - "Josignacio's Newism" by art consultant and critic Roberto J Cayuso, Miami
  • 1995 - "The Flag" by Jorge Valls, Miami, Florida
  • 2008 - "Josignacio: Un Pintor Abstracto en Miami" (An Abstract Painter in Miami) by Dr. Emilio Ichikawa, a renown Cuban intellectual, Miami, Florida

References

  • Las Oleadas de resina de Josignacio Culturales by Toni Piñera, Granma newspaper La Habana 4 de Marzo de 1987. Cuba
  • Josignacio Plastica by Ele Nussa. Revista Bohemia Marzo 27 de 1987. Cuba
  • Exposicion del Joven Pintor Josignacio 17 de septiembre de 1987 Trabajadores newspaper Cuba
  • Josignacio Novato del año Plastica by Ele Nussa. Revista Bohemia Septiembre 18 de 1987. Cuba
  • Josignacio esta acabando, Los Pasos de un Joven Diligente Plastica by Ele Nussa. Revista Bohemia Abril de 1988. Cuba
  • Contacto Dedicated to artist Josignacio by Hilda Rabilero, Cubavision International, Canal 6, 1987. Cuba1988
  • Concierto Sentido Dedicated to artist Josignacio and Cuban musician José María Vitier, Cubavision International, Canal 6, 1988. Cuba
  • "Revista de la Mañana" "Josignacio nos habla de su novedosa tecnica" an interview by Freddy Moros, Dedicate to Artist Josignacio. Cubavision International, Canal 6, 1988. Cuba
  • Josignacio Creador de una novedosa tecnica pictorica by Dinorah del Real "Panorama" Cubavision International, Canal 6, 1988. Cuba
  • Josignacio Nuestro Orgullo by Esteban Lamelas, Univision Channel 23, 1996
  • Helen Cohen, Two Events Offer Chance to Buy artworks, Fight AIDS Auction, Miami, Florida, The Miami Herald newspaper, April 20, 1990
  • Alvarez-Bravo, Armando, De Ronda, Miami, Florida, El Nuevo Herald newspaper, September 4, 1996.
  • Alvarez-Bravo, Armando, Josignacio, Miami, Florida, El Nuevo Herald newspaper, July 20, 1996.
  • Into the Night by Liz Martinez. Miami New Times, May 15, 1997
  • Cover Illustration for the book Oduduwa Un Secreto de Ifa. by Claudia Mola Fernandez ISBN 978-0-9672988-0-1. 1999
  • Ichikawa, Emilio, Josignacio: un pintor abstracto en Miami, Miami, Florida, El Nuevo Herald newspaper, August 11, 2008.

External links

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