The Four artists participating in the FORASTEROS exhibition are well-known members of one of the most vibrant and rich artistic legacies in Mexico. Rolando Rojas, Saúl Castro, Didier Mayes and Ixrael Montes are artists and printmakers who live and work in Oaxaca. Each has his own distinct style; however, all are associated with, and inspired by a long visual arts tradition that includes such illustrious Masters as Rufino Tamayo, Francisco Toledo, Guillermo Cabrera, Rodolfo Morales and Rodolfo Nieto. The Southern region of Mexico, where Oaxaca is located, is routinely celebrated for its unique artistic and graphic arts output, its cultural institutions and a plethora of art and printmaking studios. The work of these artists, which has been exhibited around the world, exemplifies the exquisite quality and range of contemporary art and printmaking in Mexico.

Francisco Pereira, sculptor and architect born in Caracas, Venezuela (1959) transforms his fantastic universe into sculptures. The artist from Caracas has developed the theme of the evolution of the psyche, from a series of unique and very particular characters, whom he decided to call Bipeds. Animals that move like psychological figures that are in a constant process of transformation, from the animal to the human, from quadrupeds to bipeds. A surprising bestiary that delves into the dreamlike imaginary, which delves into the surreal style. His relationship with the arts first manifested itself in architecture, in which he managed to relate art to space, and under this concept he carried out various projects. It could be said, however, that his work as a sculptor began to make sense in his investigations into various clay models and resin sculptures, which later inevitably led to bronze casting. The symbology of the Bipeds alludes to the psychic transformation of the animal, our natural essence, towards the consciousness of the human. In his creative process, he has been shaping his own bestiary whose protagonists have their own names: Bifante, Birafa, Bidog, among others. Through the Bipeds, Francisco Pereira seeks to express the journey of life, whose port of departure we know, but not the one of arrival. This creative metamorphosis occurred at a moment of personal maturity, when the reflection of lived experiences incubated a latent work that transformed instinct into reason. The work invites the viewer to connect beyond visual enjoyment to travel a journey towards personal transformation. In October 2013, the solo exhibition Bípedos: mirrors of the psyche was shown to the public at the D’Museo Gallery in Caracas. The exhibition catalog was awarded by the International Association of Art Curators AICA, as “Best Catalog of the Year” designed by the visual artist UAIO Antor. A year after this solo show, his work Apocalypse was selected to participate in the prestigious 67 Arturo Michelena Biennial Salon. In 2016 the artist participated in the collective exhibition organized by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) where he presented the piece LETRAS, a tribute to Miguel de Cervantes 400 years after his death. LETRAS talks about the evolution of the Spanish language represented by Rucio and Rocinante, animal characters from Don Quixote. Francisco Pereira’s Bípedos have toured prestigious fairs, such as the Caracas Ibero-American Art Fair (FIA), the KIAF in Seoul, PINTA New York, Barcú in Bogotá, as well as ArtLima in Peru and Art Shanghai, in China. Francisco Pereira has participated in different individual and collective exhibitions in Caracas. His work has also been shown at the Zulia Museum of Contemporary Art (Maczul). In his most recent work, Pereira reflects on the difficult universal phenomenon of migration, which in recent history millions of Venezuelans have suffered while fleeing the iron dictatorship that has been installed in the country. A diaspora that resembles the process suffered by hundreds of Africans who cross the Mediterranean every day, Syrians who cross the continent in search of refuge, and Cubans who get on a raft after their freedom. The Migrants are related to the Bipeds in their long lower extremities, their transformation, the tension of opposites, the pain of abandoning the origin and uprooting. Artist Statement “My work does not come by chance, nor is it given freely by the muses, the transit for the maturation of ideas is long, full of readings, sketches, work, and experiences that feed the blooms of the unconscious. This has been my experience in years of artistic work. Consequently, through my bronze sculptures, I open a window where I explore and represent the complexity of the hidden, repressed and transforming aspects of the psyche. Its connections between the conscious and the unconscious are symbolized by anthropomorphic forms full of symbolism, composed of textures with dark and dull colors, thus evoking the presence of the inner shadow, inviting reflection on our duality and the importance of accepting our darkest parts.” web: franciscopereiraescultor.com Instagram: franciscopereiraescultor

This exhibition features the art of four Oaxacan artists whose work explores the complexities of identity at the intersection of the real and the imaginary, tradition and modernity. Through their use of color, texture, and symbolism, each of these artists offers a distinctive perspective on the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the Region. Together, these works pay homage to the world legacy of their predecessors, such as Tamayo, Morales, Nieto, and Toledo, and showcase the enduring and innovative nature of contemporary Mexican art. The works of Rolando Rojas, Didier Mayes, Saul Castro, and Ixrael Montes create a powerful and compelling exhibit that celebrates the diversity and richness of Oaxacan contemporary art.

Maria Hughes available pieces