Probably the most difficult thing is to have the certainty of who one is. Even today it’s an arduous task to define myself, especially when one conjugates several contradictions that break with the idea of having a specific north. In this context, an artist statement is a short-sighted work that may be incomplete. I can commit the injustice of leaving aside aspects, obviating them unconsciously.
The Overview effect is a phenomenon that astronauts experience when going out into outer space and observing the planet earth in its entirety; they notice a cognitive change of consciousness, seeing the disappearance of borders
and perceiving a concept of human unity. Carl Sagan’s thoughts on the Pale Blue Dot photography points in that direction.
A group of blind men comes across an elephant. Trying to decipher it’s physical nature, they each touch a different part of the animal. The result is an erroneous notion of the pachyderm to believe that it’s a trunk, legs or a tail. The Indian parable of the blind and the elephant illustrates that subjective vision that can only be overcome when the different points of view manage to reconcile in a great total vision: to go back in order to observe the whole picture.
Maybe I am still like those blind people, manifesting through my work different parts of a great whole that I only intuit with glimpses. I keep scrutinizing in my context and in my psyche. I’m still painting, drawing, writing and rambling with the hope that one day I can see the elephant in its entirety.
| (+30) 6943068750 | cerouno01@gmail.com | Pythias 7A, 4th floor, Kypseli, Athens, Greece|
Current Representation: SGR Gallery, Bogotá, Colombia. http://sgr-art.com/. (+57) 1 6318027
EDUCATION
2010. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Bachelor of Fine Arts.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019. Chili Art Gallery. Mantra. Athens, Greece
2016. SGR Gallery. The Sense of Things. Bogotá, Colombia
2011. Estanislao Zuleta Cultural Corporation. My mind is my hell. Medellín, Colombia
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
2021. SWAB Barcelona Contemporary Art Fair (SGR Gallery booth). Barcelona, Spain
2021. Casa 73-22 (In association with SGR Gallery). Otras Geografías. Bogotá, Colombia
2020. SWAB Barcelona Contemporary Art Fair (SGR Gallery booth). Barcelona, Spain
2019. 45SNA (45th National Artists Salon). Bogotá, Colombia
2018. Commission Work. Mariott Hotel- Santa Marta, Colombia
2018. La Bellevilloise -Festival l’autre Amérique Latine. Paris, France
2017. Aegis Building. Open Studio Exhibition- Johannesburg, South Africa
2017. SGR Gallery. Water as a vehicle of psychedelia. Bogotá, Colombia
2016. Odeón. Contemporary Art Fair. Bogotá, Colombia.
2016. SGR Gallery. Pre-recorded Laughs. Bogotá, Colombia.
2014. Odeón. Contemporary Art Fair. Bogotá, Colombia.
2012. Espacio Moebius. C_ZINE, show of colombian fanzines. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2010. Atrium, IDB Headquarters. 80 years – Javeriana in the Arts. Washington D.C.
2010. The Warehouse Art Gallery. Unidad Once – Drawing Show. Bogotá, Colombia.
MENTIONS
2011. Training Grant, Ministry of Culture and Cultural PRANA Business Incubator and Creative Industries.
2007. National Award “Sin Formato” Honorable Mention, Ministry of Culture, for the work “Iron and Magma”.
PUBLICATIONS (SELECTED)
2020. NOTHINGNESS. Self published (FANGO houseprint).
2019. BADLANDS. Editorial project part of the 45th National Artists Salon.
2016. VADEMÉCUM. Perro Centinela Comics.
2013. Flores para Veneno. Volcán Ediciones.
2010. Araña de Siete Patas. Self-published.
Manuel Hernández Ruiz 