Exhibition

Stories behind the 100 Urban Faces:
Why Amy Winehouse?

Coincidence or synchronicity. When Amy Winehouse died, her “face” was due to be made, according to my working schedule for that week. I was making 100 Urban Faces for a group exhibition I would take part in that year.

Atamayka-100 Urban faces - Oh Amy!

While working her into the clay, I couldn’t help but feel sad about a life of such talent and how human nature in all its beauty also has a terrible self-destroy button. At one point I muttered “oh, Amy!” and so I named this piece.

Later on that year, right before the official opening of the group show, she was the first “face” of this series to be sold. Three minutes later, while I was looking to place the red dot, another collector wanted to buy it too. The two had a bit of a conversation.

I was thrilled and thankful, but also surprised and I have to admit, the thrill turned into a bit of disappointment. Why Amy? I didn’t regard her as my most moving face. What’s with choosing normal people? I forgot all about these feelings as other faces found their way to new homes though. The show had been a success.

It just happens that people and their expressions move me deeply. The beauty in everyday people is poetry for me.

But it’s not and was never about me at all.
As an artist and as a person, you are often confronted with what you have in your mind and what is actually perceived by others.
For me, this is eye-opening and very interesting indeed.
I guess we all have a thing for stardust.

Atamayka- 100 Urban Faces - Woody Allen

Talking about stardust… Woody Allen is still available.

Find out more about serendipity and the ceramic wall sculpture series “100 Urban Faces”

+ (Note: The 100 Urban Faces series of wall sculptures are available. For details, please contact me at art@atamayka.com) +

Merken

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Art trilogy exhibition

Art Trilogy Atamayka
I had the honor to particpate in a show, called “ART Trilogie”, with fellow artists Franz Bode, Erika Breitenlechner and Waltraud Sieb. Our art-trilogy was composed of acrylic paintings from Erika Breitenlechner, driftwood objects from Waltraud Sieb and Franz Bode as well as my 100 Urban Faces. It was a wonderful and enrichening experience and I thank all who came by and gave us their support.

Journalist Veronika Spielbichler wrote an article about the exhibition which is also full of great images (click on them for bigger views).

The English translation of the article is as follows:
A worthwhile goal for artistic exploration
Text and photography by Veronika Spielbichler
Three artists – three different approaches and materials – were brought together for the exhibition “Art Trilogy” from the 25th to the 27th of November 2011 in the Sparkassensaal Wörgl.

Franz Bode, former chairman of the Art Association ARTirol and still deeply connected to the local creative scene (pictured right), worked as a “hobby-curator” and presented the fascinating and unique ceramic works called “100 Urban Faces “of the Venezuelan born architect (editor note: Atamayka studied architecture but she’s not an architect) and graphic designer Atamayka, the “Color Tone” from the studio of Erika Breitenlechner and the imaginative “Findlinge” (The Found – Driftwood) from Waltraud Sieb (from left). Wörgl’s Cultural Officer, Johannes Puchleitner (left), presented the works to the audience.

Atamayka-Art Trilogy
“100 Urban Faces “– These ceramic faces were formed by Atamayka, including Amy Winehouse (3rd picture from left).

Atamayka-Art Trilogy

Driftwood and its course through the river inspired Waltraud Sieb‘s objects, Erika Breitenlechner created large-scale color artworks with different mediums. The sound was delivered at the opening by the MTC-clarinet trio.

Atamayka-Art Trilogy

Wörgl’s Cultural Officer, Johannes Puchleitner, gave the opening speech and presented the three artists. Atamayka has lived in Wörgl for 12 years (editor note: Atamayka has lived in several cities of Tirol, including Wörgl) and was encouraged by Franz Bode to make her first show which generated immediate and great attention. Her pieces and the way she works is not found to be comparable.

“Atamayka’s work was a discovery game. She scribbled lines on paper, connecting them to turn them into faces and then transfer them to clay. The plasticity of clay breathes life into the faces and creates emotions,” explained Puchleitner. But the artistic process for Atamayka is not finished with the show. Eagerly pursuing how the viewer reacts, she takes these reactions and uses them as a starting point for further creative work. Puchleitner: “Atamayka sees herself as a translator for the restlessness of her soul.”

“For Erika Breitenlechner it was possible to quickly develop a remarkable style in painting,” Puchleitner praised the works of the Wörgl painter who’s now living in Oberau as she has developed her own language of color. The wooden objects, beautifully made by Waltraud Sieb, formed the third part of this remarkable ART – trilogy.

That working together was a delight, not only for the artists, but also for the exhibition organizer, was hinted by Franz Bode: “It was from the first to the last minute fun with you!” Also visitors were locked to the exhibition by means of humor, an “Orc” by a fire pit in front of the Sparkasse aroused the curiosity of passers-by.
More pictures from the opening here in the gallery…

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