Joshef Matè
The Odyssey Within: an Exhibition of Fine Art by Greek and Italian Artists
December 23 - January 12, 2012
Reception:
Thursday December 29, 2011 6-8 PM
Press Release
After an organ transplant helped him recover from a tragic illness, Joshef Matè immersed himself in his painting with all the gusto he thought he had lost forever. That experience has definitely shaped his art; his abstracts are directly inspired by the emotions he felt when he was unwell. Matè uses bold colors, and his work is often filled with pain and frenetic movement. Yet at the same time, there is a powerful sensitivity in his relaxed brushstrokes and informal use of acrylics, and his images have a mesmerizing effect. It's almost as if "an emotional sensation develops in a progression on the canvas," as Matè explains it. These informal paintings display an incredible depth of feeling, and the artist draws some inspiration from Manzoni, the Italian prisoner of war who began painting while in captivity.
Joshef Matè was born in Italy in Carate Brianza. He recently began to show his work, which has received acclaim in his homeland and is beginning to draw attention in the United States and China.
Artist Statement
I have always loved art and creative endeavor, but for many years a serious illness prevented me from engaging with it as I would have liked. However, an organ transplant finally gave me the chance to return to normal life – and as I resumed painting, I found that my abstract creations have been inspired by the emotions experienced during the years of illness. Moreover the joy and hope I feel on beginning my new form of life add additional energy and zest to my work. I keep a balance in my work between the planned and the spontaneous, entering each time on a personal journey of sensations which develop on the canvas.
Invitation to the exhibition
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Art for sale on Art-Mine.com
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View the catalog page
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Artists in this exhibition
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