Page 41 - World of Art magazine (2000)

rauL mora mexico

i was born in Mexico, and have lived in Mexico city of Mexico, otoño Musical 1994, of Mexico, arte al Día For many years i have participated in more than 60 group
most of my life. at present i live in the very small town internacional, of Buenos aires, and books presencia de exhibitions in the most important forums in Mexico city,
of Malinalco, where i have my studio. Since my early arte Mexicano en europa and el arte a precio de Martillo including the Museo Rufino Tamayo, as well as in several
childhood i started painting with teachers such as 1977-1995. other Mexican cities, in addition to countries such as the
Grachene and José Bardasano. later on i was part of i have had 17 one-man exhibits in Mexico, the united united States, Sweden, Spain, France and Switzerland.
the studio of Dolores león de la Barra and worked States and Germany. among them are several sponsored in the words of Berta Taracena, noted Mexican art critic:
materials techniques with luis Nishizawa. The rest of by the Mexican top cultural government organizations ” in his work, the force of color and the sensitivity of lines
my painting knowledge i have developed in a personal (conaculta, National council for culture and the arts, Fondo create a movement that does not leave the spectators on
manner. Nacional para la cultura y las artes, National Fund for the outside, but includes them, inviting them to activate
Numerous publications have made reference to my art culture and the arts, iNBa, National institute of Fine arts, their visual and emotional perceptions. it deals in an artistic
work, among which are several editions of international instituto de cultura de Tabasco, cultural institute of the language that equally attracts the linear writing than the
auction Records, of paris, art Sales index, of london, State of Tabasco, instituto Mexiquense de cultura, cultural speed at which color changes its clothes, its meaning,
Directory of the plastic arts, of Mexico, the 1999 arts institute of the State of Mexico), and the centennial growing dim and firing up equally whether the subject is
calendar, published by the city of el paso arts Resources, Museum of el paso, Texas, la llorona art Gallery of chicago, a cloud or a flower, rain or field, hope, rhythm, smile,
and magazines such as Hola, of Madrid, Mundo ejecutivo, illinois, uSa and Schloss liebenstein in Stuttgart, Germany. remembrance or surprise.”
ARTisT TalK

Painting for me is the means to others; if positive, I am pleased and, if decide when a painting has been
interpret all aspects of nature, to capture negative, I try to learn from them but will completed, since I feel that maybe one
an instant, the emotion of a face, the not change my style or subject matter to brushstroke in excess may ruin the
movement of the human form, the suit any particular review. Although I painting. I experience an intense
peacefulness of scenery, the joy of a do not consider myself a master of nervousness when I am working, and
flower. Feelings and emotions all of the painting, I do have the self-confidence to even more so when the completion of the
grandeur and majesty of Creation. My paint what and how I want to, but also painting is near. I study my paintings for
intention when painting is to transmit the feel that I will never stop learning, and many hours throughout the whole
joy of life; interpretations of beauty, therefore attend many exhibitions of painting process and more so once I
emotions and feelings, through color, other painters, both living and dead. consider them to be complete. After all
light and form. In every painting I do, I try to put a the time spent in studying the painting, I
I am a figurative artist now totally piece of my soul in it, so that the guess that, basically, it is a gut feeling
dedicated to painting oils, mainly on spectator can feel the emotions I try to that lets me know when a painting is
canvas or linen, although I have done convey; the narrative, the emotion of a complete.
some paintings on wood. My paintings movement or of a sentiment. The Ever since I was a child the
are very vibrant, and my use of color is elements in my work do not work impressionists and post-impressionists
considered by many to be new and independently, since they are all thought were my favorite expression of paintings.
exciting. I believe that a proper out to be a part of the whole, without I feel that this manner of painting is still
preparation of the canvas or other which the painting would be incomplete partially in my work, but don’t feel that I
materials, such as with the or lacking in depth and emotion. My have entered the stream of traditional art.
”imprimatura” used in the 16th century work does not try to be physically exact I consider my painting to be very ”now”
is most important, both for the to the subject matter that I paint; rather it and contemporary, although it is
preservation of the painting as well as for is the feelings and reactions that are born figurative and not, say, abstract,
the transparency and brilliance of the in me that I try to transmit in my conceptual or other trends, in vogue
colors. I have also worked extensively paintings. This makes it very difficult to nowadays. The scribbling I do in my
with pastels on paper. paintings, as also happens with the use of
For me, the function of art today is, as color and the vibrations I create, are very
it always has been, multifold, including intuitive.
political, social and functional uses, The only decision in my painting career
among others. In my case, the function that I think about occasionally is that I
of my art is to bring joy and emotions to did not devote my entire life to it but for
the spectators of my paintings. In the a period of time had to work as a
past, in addition to painting, I also consultant. This decision would
worked as a business consultant, which definitely have changed my whole life,
in its own way was also very creative. All but I am not one to brood over things
arts have always been very important to that might have been. One of my
me. Both modern and classical dance is teachers, Painter Dolores Leon de la
especially dear to me and they are themes Barra, who was very influential in my
that I often paint. Music is a necessity career, continually told me that things
for me at all times, and always when I come when they have to, and not before.
paint. Literature is a must. I consider that it is very important to be
Although there are themes that are present in mega events such as the Venice
easier to sell than others, I always paint Biennal or the Sao Paulo Biennal,
what I feel at the moment, not although there are other less important
considering the effect of the market value events which are also worthy of participa-
on the paintings. The same applies to ting in, both as an artist and as part of
reviews of my work by art critics and the public, to see, study, and learn.

Special iSSue 2000 WORLD of ART 39