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(Uruguay, b. 1974)
The work of Santiago Garcia explores the wondrous, colorful and always intriguing world between figuration and abstraction. Through contextualization of reality, the Uruguayan artist’s work raises absurd situations within a framework of the everyday world and leaves the content on its own to the free interpretation of the observer.
The artist was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1974. As self-taught painter, Garcia produced an immense body of work in his early years. During the mid-1990s, under an art scholarship with the University of Uruguay, he studied under master engraver Eduardo Fornasari, master painter Clever Lara and acclaimed ceramicist Susana Pizzurno.
In 1998, Garcia obtained a grant from the Museum of American art of Maldonado for drawing and painting studies with the master painter Miguel Angel Battegazzore. He worked as an assistant to the Argentinean painter Rogelio Polesello for exhibition at the Museum of American art of Maldonado, Uruguay. For the exhibition, he produced murals for Juvenalia 98 and the subsequent exhibition at La Rural del Prado in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The numbers and sometimes words you see in Santiago Garcia’s paintings are based on Divine Proportion, which is a mathematical ratio that ultimately determines the patterns and proportions of the painting. Also, numerology, each number has significance and meaning. Sometimes that meaning is subjective and not explainable. The words seen on the canvas are meant to have a subliminal effect that is up to the viewer to interpret.
What’s important to note about the work is that they are “new figuration”, or “magic realism”. “New figuration” refers to the revival of figurative art in Europe and America in the 60’s following a period dominated by abstraction. The work shows a passion for the human (or animal or shoe) form.
Garcia’s paintings often incorporate seemingly contradictory elements that he brings into harmony. Some of his paintings show animals in absurd situations where the modern world clashes with the wild in a context that allows the viewer to finish the work according to their own vision. He feels that the paintings should not be explained, but left to the viewer. Other paintings depict converse shoes that serve as metaphors for family, relationships, and reminders of where they’ve been and where they’re going.
EXHIBITIONS
2018
ESTEARTE 2018, Punta del Este, Uruguay
Alianza Francesa de Montevideo, Uruguay
2017
Desert Art Collection Gallery, Palm Desert, USA
Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA
2016
Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Espacio Cultural de Mexico, Montevideo, Uruguay
2015
Eisenhauer Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA
2014
Gallery Bergelli, San Francisco, USA
Atelier Gallery, Carolina del Sur, USA
Galeria de Arte La Sala, Santiago de Chile, Chile
Grillo Galería de arte, Punta del Este, Uruguay
Pez Gordo Gallery, Baja California Sur, México
2013
District Gallery, Park City, Utah
Galería Diana Saravia, Montevideo, Uruguay
2012
Ralli Museum, Santiago de Chile
Galeria de la Ciudadela, Montevideo
Cultural Center La Spezia, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2011
Maurer Gallery, Los Cabos, Mexico.
Room-Carafi Castells, Montevideo Uruguay.
Cultural Center La Paz, La Paz, Mexico.
2010
"First National Visual Arts Competition" Zonamerica, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Museum of American Art MAAM Maldonado, Punta del Este Uruguay
2009
Art Space Sacramento, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2008
Big Shot Gallery, Mèxico.
2007
Tennis Club de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
Cultural Center La Paloma, Rocha, Uruguay.
2006
Khroma Gallery, Puerto Rico.
Embassy of Uruguay, Washington DC, USA
2005
Center for Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR), La Paz, Baja California, Mexico.
Municipal Subway IMM, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2004
Alliance Francaise de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
Asociaçao Omaguás de Cultira Artistica, San Pablo, Brazil
Exhibition Hall Freedom Books, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2003
Alliance Francaise de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
Paninni's, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2002
SOS RACISME, 10th Fe sta of Diversitat. Fonts de Montjuic, Barcelona, Spain
2001
Cultural Space La Spezia, Montevideo, Uruguay
Theatre Alliance-USA Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
Sacramento, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Center for Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR), La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, Cultural Dissemination Department, La Paz, Baja California, Mexico.
Cultural Center Siglo XXI, artists Camp 2001 Todos Santos, Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico
Biennial Art Festival 2001 Todos Santos, Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico
Cultural Center Siglo XXI, Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico
2000
Cultural Center Siglo XXI, Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico
Center for Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR), SC, La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
AGADU Theatre, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Cultural Center Agundez Jesus Castro and Carlos Olachea Gallery, Sudcaliforniano Institute of Culture, La Paz, Baja California, Mexico.
1999
White Pueblo Cultural Center, Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Sacramento, Montevideo, Uruguay
1998
Literary and Plastic Area, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Casa Pueblo, Meeting of States by Colour Painters 98, Maldonado, Uruguay.
Second Biennial Biennial Recycled Art, Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Todomusica Foundation, Montevideo, Uruguay.
LECTURING
2001
Lecturer at Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), on recycled art.
1998
Director of a Workshop on murals at Immaculate Conception High School, Montevideo, Uruguay.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2007
First award in the Painting Competition Tennis Club de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2002
Recognition at Center for Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR), Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Recognition at Biennial Art Festival 2001 Todos Santos, Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico.
2001
Recognition at Centro Cultural Agúndez Jesus Castro, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
1999
First international exhibition award in the Credit Suisse Award for the Arts and Sciences, Punta del Este, Uruguay.
1997
Special mention in the Salon of Painting 1997, Naval Club Montevideo, Uruguay