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Los Carpinteros Biography
Los Carpinteros is a Cuban artist collective that has significantly impacted the contemporary art scene with their unique blend of architecture, design, and sculpture. Founded in Havana in 1992 by Marco Antonio Castillo Valdés, Dagoberto Rodríguez Sánchez, and Alexandre Arrechea (who left the group in 2003), Los Carpinteros have renounced the notion of individual authorship to embrace a collaborative approach that harks back to the guild tradition of artisans and skilled laborers. This decision reflects their belief that art inherently involves collaboration, a principle that has guided their work throughout their career.
Both Castillo Valdés and Rodríguez Sánchez were born in Cuba and have since divided their time between Havana and Madrid, showcasing their work across Cuba, Europe, and North America. Their art has earned them numerous awards, highlighting their significant contributions to the international art community. Los Carpinteros' work is characterized by a playful yet critical exploration of the intersection between art and everyday life, merging architecture, design, drawing, and sculpture in innovative and often humorous ways.
The collective's name, which translates to "The Carpenters," underscores their interest in craftsmanship and the physical creation of art. This is evident in their meticulous approach to drawing, which serves as both a conceptual and preparatory phase for their three-dimensional works. These drawings, often resembling technical drafts or blueprints, play a crucial role in their artistic process, suggesting not only a method of artistic elaboration but also architectural or carpentry plans.
Los Carpinteros' installations and sculptures frequently challenge the boundaries between the functional and the nonfunctional, drawing inspiration from the physical world, particularly architectural constructions. Their work negotiates the space between conceptualism, activism, and formalism, employing wit to exploit visual syntax that sets up contradictions among object, function, and language. This approach allows them to comment on societal issues in a manner that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
Their art has been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the TATE Gallery in London, the Museo de Bellas Artes in Havana, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, and many others. Los Carpinteros have also participated in numerous group exhibitions and have been commissioned to create site-specific installations, such as "Free Basket" for the Indianapolis Museum of Art and "The Globe" for the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Throughout their career, Los Carpinteros have developed a distinctive style that draws heavily on Cuban architectural and vernacular imagery, often treated with an oblique irreverence. This period of their work coincided with Cuba's opening up to the West, which brought an influx of tourism revenue and international attention to Cuban art. Their first show outside of Cuba was in 1995 at London's Whitechapel Gallery, and they have since become fixtures on the international art scene, known for their rigorous engagement with historical ideas of utopianism combined with a late-20th-century sensibility.
In their work, Los Carpinteros often employ visual puns based on incongruous or even impossible juxtapositions, allowing them to offer subtle critiques without resorting to overt political statements. This method enables them to navigate the complexities of Cuban identity and the broader issues of power and social construction in a global context. Despite the departure of Alexandre Arrechea, Castillo and Rodríguez have continued to work as Los Carpinteros, maintaining the collective's critical acclaim and influence in contemporary art. Their work remains a testament to the power of collaboration and the enduring relevance of art in addressing societal issues.
Los Carpinteros Quotes and
Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
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works:
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