There's nothing quite like the feeling of delving into the world of masters in art and design. Their work, lives, and creations never fail to inspire and uplift me.
This Friday, August 17th, marks the birthday of Carlos Cruz-Diez, a Venezuelan artist widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in Kinetic-Optical art. Cruz-Diez was born in 1923 and has lived and worked in France since 1960. His artistic movement promotes an awareness of the instability of reality through exploring and reproducing colors beyond physical space. His impressive body of work has cemented him as one of the most important color thinkers of the twentieth century.
Almost 80 Years of Experience... WOW, Just WOW!
In the context of celebrating his birthday, I want to share some of his works and the views and wisdom he gained throughout his career. One of the most significant aspects that we can take from a professional with his trajectory!
I just finished reading Carlos Cruz-Diez: in Conversation with Ariel Jimenez. It's an inspirational exploration of his creative mind throughout his whole life. Without a doubt, he has the lovely gift of transferring his wisdom, knowledge, and sageness in a very didactic way.
Looking for His Own Voice.
One of the things that really moved me was his perseverance in creating a discourse that everybody could understand, regardless of their culture or specific historical’s context. Cruz-Diez, after a lot of effort, finds a way to deliver an artistic expression that teaches people
how to 'read' the colors and to see beyond the actual forms themselves.
It’s worth noting that the search for his unique artistic discourse began around the 1950th. By then, it was considered that the ‘traditional painting’ had ended, and most artists were looking for new approaches and directions for their creative development. A search that wasn't linear, as Cruz-Diez comments. The evolution of his discourse resulted from many progress and setbacks in his journey to discovering the right voice.
For Cruz-Diez, this was a period where “the artist must invent his discourse and be an individual of his time." Remarking that "what human beings save and treasure as references in time are those things that contribute something unprecedented, that enrich the spirit, and enlighten the mind.”
What a magnificent and profound way of thinking!
As a fine artist and interior designer, it is crucial for me to create pieces that contribute to the well-being of humans in some way or another. Such works hold immense value as they effectively stimulate users to think, reflect, and enhance their comprehension of a given subject matter. Furthermore, they serve as functional artworks that cater not only to art aficionados but also to the general public at large.
“What I have achieved to date is the result of a long and complex process of historical analysis, of coming to know myself and my limitations and my possibilities, without lying to myself and without poses.”
"Chromatic Environment" (1974). Picture: cruz-diez.com
Urban & Architectural Intervention: a Way the Art Can Reach Everyone!
I must confess that my favorite works are those where Cruz-Diez intervenes the urban spaces or integrates artworks into architecture. It's a passion of mine, as those who know me can attest.
Another example of how he introduces his art concept into functional pieces is Ambientación Cromática (2007) - part of the Couleur Additive concept. An architectural integration embodied on 1500 seats and on the backdrop of the Concert Hall - Centro de Acción Social por la Música, Caracas, Venezuela.
Ambientación Cromática (2007). Picture: www.cruz-diez.com
Or one of the most resent functional pieces, this Induction Chromatique Feu Vert II (2017)
Feu Vert II (2017) Picture: www.cruz-diez.com
I can't finish without highlighting some of his urban interventions incorporated into the City’s crosswalks and passways. You can see these in different towns in France, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and here in the United States, in cities such as Houston, Miami, and the most recent in 2017 in Coral Gables and Los Angeles.
Couleur Additive The Broad, Los Angeles, United States (2017) - Picture: www.cruz-diez.com
Happy 95 birthday Mr. Cruz-Diez!!!