Chris Mendoza, solo exhibition October 11th / November 15th
September 16, 2008
Christian Mendoza is a New York City based painter from Nicaragua whose paintings draw from the experiences of his native country and the influences of New York City and Miami. Mendoza's work bridges the modern,primitive, and organic. He draws strongly on the nature and folklore of his homeland, while interpreting the density and chaos of daily urban life.
In the 1980's his family moved to the Bronx, where Mendoza began to develop a style that combining architectural draftsmanship he learned from his father with the new inspirations of letters, faces, and forms that then covered the subways of New York City. At a young age, he learned drafting and about architecture from his father. This inspiration brought Mendoza to the study of Mayan, Central and Native American Cultures, hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, calligraphies, and alphabets from both ancient and modern cultures which also inform his work. With great dedication he continued his study of world alphabets, color, and movement as well as the work of Matta, Kandinsky,Miro, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Mendoza returned to New York in 2000, where he now lives and works in a range of styles that culminate all the influences of his early development.
Strongly rooted in architectural drawings, machines, and Central and North American Indian art, Mendoza has developed a unique language of spiky, angular symbols that blend the natural and mystical folklore of his childhood with the density and chaos of urban life. His paintings are grounded with descriptive line work that creates a sense of movement and energy. A visual manifestation of the sonic combinations found in early Hip-Hop mix tapes and performances emanate from his surfaces.
Rey Parlá.
September 16, 2008 , 7:49 AM
