On April 22nd Israel travels to the island of Sardinia, Italy – who celebrates with
all of Italy, its 150th Anniversary of the Unification of the Italian Republic, and
at the same time celebrates the 120th Anniversary of one of its most important
socialist fighters, Antonio Gramsci. As part of the celebration, Sardinia has proposed
an international culture symposium. They will have: theater, jazz, dance, poetry,
literature, film, modern art, and other forms of artistic expression. With the
backing of the Italian government, the foundation of the bank of Sardinia and the
European community, they have invited several artists from other countries (Spain,
Mexico, United States and of course Italy).
From all of Mexico there are only two artists invited to participate, a sculptor that
lives in Valencia, Spain and IsraeI Zzepda.
Israel will spend 30 plus days collaborating on the painting of two murals with the
theme of liberty and the socialist fight, in different social institutes. Following that,
he will also be teaching a course in mural painting for 15 days, to young artists from
the University of Sardinia.
At the end of this event, the objective is to spend two weeks visiting museums in
the city of Florence, Rome, Venice and Madrid - Visits that he says will nourish
him as an artist. He returns to Mexico on June 26th. We wish him an amazing
journey. Knowing how dedicated to his studio Israel is, I am sure the decision to
leave for two months has been a difficult one. But weighing the experiences he
will encounter he has been encouraged, by friends, family and collectors to make the
journey.
For those of you who do not know much about Israel, we have added some quotes
from an Art History Curator and an Art Critic, in hopes that you will understand
this artistic, young man a little better. Also at this time we want to offer you the chance
to buy paintings and sculptures created prior to November 2010. Works of art
prior to this date have not realized a price increase. If you have been following his
career for some years, you will be aware that he is a good investment and that there
has been a substantial increase in prices in 2011. We do offer lay away and discounts
on the listed prices, if you would like to add an original painting or sculpture by
Israel ZZepda to your collection.
Israel ZZepda, a native of Guadalajara, born in 1971, has been painting and
drawing for more than 25 years and has recently expanded his artistic energy
to include sculpture (in paper mache, bronze & most recently cast aluminum),
experimental photography. The general public is constantly surprised at the huge
body of work he has produced for a man so young. He became an apprentice at
the age of 15 in the studio of Professor Pedro Eufraca. Zzepda was involved
in art workshops during his childhood and after high school he joined a school
of visual arts in Guadalajara where he developed a personal style that he defines
into the symbolism. A full time art teacher at the age of 19, Zzepda has influenced
many young artists, including various members of his own family who are
aspiring artists. He taught art and fashion illustration for more than 13 years. He has
also painted more than 1000 meters of murals in both public and private places in
Cancun, Uruapan, Michoacán and Jalisco.
Additionally he has sculpted thousands of figures in arcilla (a type of clay used
on tennis courts), metal, paper-mache and bronze, and has experimented with
photography, kaleidoscopes & set design.
People are also surprised by his quiet, gentle manners, as they would expect him
to be of a stronger temperament, possibly even a troubled soul. There is sensitivity,
innocence and a refined discipline about this young man, who just turned 40.
His work penetrates into the religious, spiritual, sexual and existential realms,
reflecting over the truth and questioning established thinking. He is not afraid to
express himself. “The artist is a reflection of daily life. I want to be a chronicle of my
time,” says Zzepda who seeks to be honest and reflect his own unique style in all of
his work.
Over the past few years many of his works have touched on social, political, spiritual,
as well as artistic themes. Zzepda attempts to interpret our human condition and our
spiritual dualities. Texture also plays an important role in the idealized handling of
the human figure.
He can paint photo-realistic portraits, but instead sacrifices a little of the perfection
of the human figure, in hopes of revealing the interior of himself. “We are all good
and bad, we construct and we destroy, we are of light and somewhat dark, journeying
daily through the streets of the planet.”
http://www.galleriadante.com/Artists/
Artists%20active/zzepda.htm
“Whenever the windows of my body are opened at the dawn, my soul is amazed
again at all those things that make me part of that calmness and harmony. I leave
behind the darkness of the night and once I take the brushes and start painting, the
time no longer matters; I feel the need of seizing the images that produce the
melodious smile of waking children. The faraway sound of tolling bells invites me
to meditate and later to paint as if praying, like the oldsters do under the cloak of
devotion, so persistently as if it was the last moment of my life. Knowing one life
is not enough makes me more attentive and inspires me to value and marvel at
everything around me.
I find myself before the canvas again: I am painting. By evening I’m still painting.
Then I fall asleep. My spirit travels and drives the illogical development of a
thousand movies. The images make me experience contrary emotions: from
laughing to crying; I wake up again to work. The time seems short and the
days go by. Sometimes I regret being able to capture only few images from the
enormous stream flowing every second, but it comforts me when anyone else
besides me values at least one of them.”
Israel Zzepda
“The art is nourished by diverse social influences that result in hybrid ideas.
There is also globalization of symbols merged into multiple iconographies and
adapted at different times and in different contexts to private needs. This is the most
precise approach to the work of Israel Zzepda. Under the formal influence of the
Mexican muralist movement, he presented a series of religious works where the
sanctification multiplies, becoming a divine mixture beyond the emasculation
aspect of religion.
The artist transforms common and recognizable Catholic scenes of early
Renaissance art that used to decorate the sacred interiors of churches, blending
them with more contemporary elements.
In the Dimensional window Zzepda uses the window as an escape point to release
his angels and cherubs that, resembling muralism, become enormous embryos on
their way to exploring. In some of his works, such as Martyr Cow this concept
becomes clearer. Within common religious scenery, as it is in Christ’s crucifixion,
Zzepda shows a cow as a martyr and places it in a city surrounded by highways
and parading cars. The cow, protected by a divine halo drawn around its head, suffers
while a pigeon, symbol of the Holy spirit, tried to comfort it. Besides, the cow is
marked with a money symbol. This almost prophetic or apocalyptic work reveals a
moment in time, where only some children are angles; others wear a disguise granted
by history. Zzepda narrates the story of Biblical chaos awaiting a new origin: a
savior who shall clean the dirt and show the light. His paintings live in a mythological
dream, where the purest beings, babies, children, fairies and unicorns grow and
fee to ultimately find salvation.”
Mirna Calzada - Art Critic
“The imaginative capacity of Israel ZZepda, is perhaps, the most dominant visual feature of his work. However, there is another outstanding characteristic among the heap of formal qualities that this artist possesses: drawing. The viewer will possibly be intrigued and will wish
to both apprehend the thematic contents of his paintings, mainly of his personal experiences, and evoke the previous readings carried out during the daily activities. Israel reveals himself as a witness of human suffering and he indeed has an extremely sensitive personality, that of a genuine artist. His aesthetic
interpretation of reality seems to be full of visionary environment, even though the artist takes as models certain elements proper to human existence, which are either altered or completely fictitious. The work of Zzepda appears to be recreating ambiguous and mysterious worlds.
Therefore at times his paintings portray strange, desolate environments with abundant, yet not scandalizing, sensual allusions. Zzepda also displays serene and sometimes humorous eroticism.
Also the artist embraces notoriously religious topics, as well as ontological and metaphysical subjects, the plastic messages of which resemble symbolism.
Finally and recapturing the introverted temperament of this artist, it needs to be said that probably, his vocation as a profane “image-maker” is an indispensable way of compensating his own nature, that is to say, Israel ZZepda seems to be regretting his painful duty. If so, the paintings of this artist are welcome to serve as a vital means of exteriorizing his feelings.” Mario Raul Garcia Jimenez - Master in Art History Hours April thru June 1st, 2011 10 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday Closed Saturday and Sundays Summer Hours: June thru September By appointment
322 221 -2971 - 044 322 229-6648
044 322 109-0837 - Galleria Dante is
located at Basilio Badillo 269 Zona
Romantica, Puerto Vallarta 322 222-2477
www.galleriadante.com
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