Stories behind the faces

One sentence stories:
„… and so finally, he took the fish.“

My cousin will move from Turin-Italy to China at the beginning of 2017. It has gotten me thinking about the early stage in which you move to a new country.

My home country is Venezuela, but i‘ve had to adapt to the U.S.A., Spain and Austria. You have to not only understand a new language, but you also have to learn how to interpret a whole new set of body language signs.

Like when some cultures nod, in what we western people would understand a yes, to mean no.

Our intimate moments, deep within our heads, translate into mimics. These gestures are conditioned by cultural and social learning. And they are also read according to our cultural and social backgrounds.

For example, how many interpretations of the face above would we find?

Tiredness of living
Sadness (maybe because my cousin is leaving Europe 😉 )
Dissapointment
Trying to listen to what someone is saying in the background
Making a decision

I wonder what this face would suggest in Asia or Africa…
Are our cultures so different that we might interpret something totally different?

In my case, I was looking at this when I was drawing him…

So, this is my one sentence story:
„and so, he took the fish“

+ (Note: For inquiries, please contact me at art@atamayka.com) +

Merken

Stories behind the 100 Urban Faces:
Ernst, the girls and Co.

I usually arrange the 100 Urban Faces I have exhibited to build up a story. Angry Ernst and the judging woman, big-eyed Alfred and this passionate woman are almost always together.

You don‘t really know what this woman is thinking when she looks at Ernst, but by the look in her eyes she might be making fun of him.

And when Alfred stares at this passionate woman, I guess that his mind is racing. I wonder, is this his wife, his neighbor? It makes me laugh.
But then, each person will see their own story. The passion I sense may be a frustration cry to something Alfred said in the head of another spectator. If you see his torso – directed away from her, maybe Alfred is considering running away…

more about the 100 Urban Faces series

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

Merken

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.

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.