Carlos Medina

“The natural evolution of sculpture and painting is toward the immaterial.”

Carlos Medina.

Venezuelan artist, born in 1953. Graduated in the School of Visual Art of Caracas, celebrating the end of his academic studies in 1975 with an individual exhibition of iron and stone sculptures called: Abstracciones geométricas espaciales, presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas. The same year he earns the Sculpture Prize in the 4th National Salon of Young Artists organized by the National Institute of Culture and Fine Arts.

In 1977 he travels to Italy and settles down in Carrara with scholarships successively granted by the Italian government and Foundation for Culture and Arts (Fundarte), Caracas. This stage features the practice of superior carving and turning techniques, and also the study of new conceptualizations over tridimensional work. He assists at the Professional School of Marble and pursues several courses at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara. Works the stone at the industry Gonari Marmi; bronze sculpturing at the Fonderia Mariani in Pietrasanta, and graphics and engravings at the Rikjscentrum Frans Masereel, Kasterlee, Belgium. During this period participates in exhibitions, symposia and events in several European countries.

Medina returns to Venezuela in 1984, and he resumes the iron and steel sculpturing for urban scale production. Assiduous researcher of techniques and materials becomes a reference of volumetric sculpture. In the following decades develops more than twenty monumental works including the iconic Fragment of rain to Caracas, a project dating from 1989 and finally realized in 2014, as a gift to the city.

Always focused on geometric abstraction, going from volumetric to spatial concerns, in the last two decades he has focused his interest in exploring spatial proposals that abandon the supports and integrate light, shadow, reflection and space time. His work is consolidated in the essential and imperceptible interpretation of universe.

Medina currently lives and works in Paris and is an artist at the Atelier Cruz Diez and important French galleries, including the emblematic Galerie Denise René in Paris. He has more than twenty awards and prizes granted to him from recognized organizations of art and culture.

Essential — Bélgica Rodríguez — In one occasion, regarding the development of his work, the abstract-conceptualist sculptor Carlos Medina (Venezuela, 1953) stated that “the natural evolution of sculpture and painting is toward the essential.” Faithful to this principle, he has slowly but steadily simplified the initial volumetric processes of his earlier works exhibited in the Sofia Imber Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas (1975), to achieve the supreme lightness and transparency patent in his pieces exposed in the Museum of Contemporary Art of Zulia in Maracaibo (2013-2014). The measured transformation of geometrical form to the point of becoming a conceptual statement has defined his trajectory. The series of works he has been working for a couple of decades—open sculptures invading empty and full spaces—are inscribed in a new aesthetic vision in which tri-dimensionality appears both as a volumetric and spatial concept, starting with an essentialist and monochromatic geometry where “emptiness” plays also a leading role.

Medina certainly goes from the material to the essential. By eliminating mass and volume, he approaches the material dissolution of the geometric form. For him “matter and pure forms or elements concentrate the spatial importance of the work,” which in the ensemble of all the series that compose it are an extraordinary example of an organic-conceptual minimalism. Each series encompasses a determined material as well as a conceptual reflection on geometric and constructivist postulates. For the artist, “form motivates the choice [of material and this is] the consequence of an idea.” Accordingly, he analyzes the concept to qualify the final work as a “pre-conceived” result which is eventually “materialized.” Each series comports a different geometry based on its location in space and the meaning that corresponds to it. However, such geometry is not submitted to inflexible aesthetic codes, for within his creative system the artist carries out a random intuitive and instinctive operation which allows him to organize his installations in conformity with the energetic vibration of the urban or domestic nature permeating the space.

Though it remains deeply abstract, constructivist and conceptual, in Carlos Medina’s whole work there is a perceivable mystical, spiritual and emotive character, which can be sensed in the Drops or Neutrinos, in the Fugues or the Tubulars, charged with sensitive mysteries belonging to a nature whose plants and flowers he approaches with the delicacy of a priest officiating a sacred ceremony.

Public works

1978 — Carrara, colección privada, Caracas, Venezuela 1980 — Column for Ostende., National Art Gallery Caracas, Venezuela 1982 — Bolívar. Kostanjevica Castle, Slovenia · Círculo espacial. Museo de Escultura Kostanjevika, Slovenia · Columna Verde, Museo de Arte Alejandro Otero, Caracas, Venezuela · Family Civil Hospital Kostanjevica, Slovenia 1987 — Estructura Móvil , Caracas Subway, Caricuao Station, Venezuela 1992 — Columna para Chile, De los Reyes Park, Santiago de Chile, Chile. (Destroyed) 1993 — Hito, Procter & Gamble, Valencia, Venezuela 1994 — Sidor. Sidor Steel Industry, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela 1995 — Hoja (Leaf) Culiacán, Culiacán, México · Monument to the Decentralization, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela 1996 — Columna para Valdivia, Alcaldía de Valdivia, Chile 1997 — Círculos Espaciales. Centro Capital Plaza Barquisimeto, Venezuela · Hoja, BADAN, Barquisimeto, Venezuela 1998 — Columna para Zacatecas, México · Monument to Sisal, El Cují, Venezuela · Columna Constructiva. Justice Palace, Barquisimeto, Venezuela 2001 — La Ciudad. Caracas, Venezuela 2002 — Doble Círculo Espacial IV. Centro Javier, Barquisimeto, Venezuela 2003 — Círculo Chetumal. Quintana Roo,México 2004 — Fragmento de lluvia (Rain fragment) Yacambú. Alcaldía Iribarren. Venezuela 2005 — Gota (Drop) Guadalajara, Guadalajara University, México · Cilindro, Colima University, México · Hoja II, Trujillo, Venezuela 2006 — Fragmento de Lluvia (Rain fragment). Museo Yeong - Wol, Corea del Sur 2007 — Hoja Espartana, Museo Vial, Porlamar, Venezuela 2011 — Columna Barroca, Sabana Grande, Caracas, Venezuela 2012 — Jardín de las Esculturas, Museo de Barquisimeto, Venezuela 2013 — Gota y Flor (Drop & Flower). Colección privada. Bogotá, Colombia 2014 — Fragmento de Lluvia para Caracas 1989-Caracas, Venezuela 2018 — Sphères avec neutrinos (éphémères), Palais Royal, Paris, France 2022 — Neutrino spheres Pinta Fair,Miami USA 2023 — Círculo & Cuadrado Madrid, Spain In project — Intervention Bussy St. Georges Station EuroDisney, France

Exhibition selection

2023 — Neutrinos. Carlos Medina. Galerie Denise René, Paris, France · Circle & Square. Madrid Luxury District.Madrid, Spain 2022 — Movement Tribute to Denise René, Bonisson Art Center, Rognes, France · Why white?. Art Paris & Wagner Gallery,Paris, France 2021 — Beyond the visible, Ascaso Gallery, Miami, USA · Mesures / Démesures. Graf Galerie, Paris France 2020 — Immersive fragment -penetrable- Galerie Denise René, París, France 2019 — Géométries de lumière. Galerie Wagner Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. France 2018 — Carlos Medina El arte de la levedad. Galería Cesta República, Madrid, España · Medina: Del concepto a la forma. Guanajuato. Art Center. Mexico 2017 — Fragments Essentiels, Espace Meyer Zafra, Paris, France · La nature en la sculpture. VillaDatris. Foundation. Isle-sur-la-Sorge, France · 40 años Geometría Galería GraphicArt, Centro Cultural Olivar, Lima Perú 2016 — Essential, Medina. Ascaso Gallery, Miami, USA 2015 — Veintiuno. La plástica del siglo XXI, MUSA Collection, Guadalajara Mexico 2013 — Aflorarte, 93 Park, Bogotá, Colombia · Esencial,. Museum of Contemporary Art (MACZUL), Maracaibo, Venezuela 2013 — Esencial, Museum of Contemporary Art, Yucatán (MACAY), Merida, Mexico 2012 — Muestra Internacional Escultura Acero, Villacero Foundation, Monterrey,Mexico 2011 — White Surfaces, Art Nouveau Gallery, Miami, USA 2009 — La Estrategia de la Forma, Museo MARCO, Monterrey, México 2008 — XI Bienal del Cairo, Egipto 2007 — Escultura Latinoamericana en Acero, Museum Modern Art, Cartagena, Colombia 2006 — MOLAA Award, Museo Latinoamericano de Los Ángeles, California, USA · Small format sculptures, Museum of Contemporary Art, Yeong Wol, South Korea 2005 — Arte Venezolano del Siglo XXI, Fine Arts Museum, Caracas 2003 — Carlos Medina y su obra, Museum of Maya Culture, Chetumal, Mexico 2002 — Abstracción y Geometría. Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas Collection 1996 — Esculturas Pequeño Formato, Art room of the town Hall, Valdivia, Chile 1990 — Obra en Madera, Museum of Contemporary Art, Caracas 1987 — Mármoles, Museum of Modern Art Jesús Soto, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela 1984 — Carlos Medina Esculturas, Fine Arts Museum, Caracas, Venezuela 1980 — Sculptures in the Royal Villa, Ostende, Belgium · International sculpture in marble, Apple Gallery, Zwarte Panter Gallery, · Maeyaert Gallery, Belgium 1981 — Ministry of Culture traveling exhibition through national museums, Belgium 1979 — Mármoles y Granitos, Van Vlaenderens Gallery & Luka Gallery, Belgium 1975 — Abstracciones geométricas espaciales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Caracas

Awards selection

2021 — Win the Contest Intervention of the Bussy St.Georges station, France 2020 — Best international trajectory artist, International Association of Art Critics (AICA) 2017 — Best book: De lo material a lo esencial. International Association of Art Critics (AICA) 2014 — Sculpture Award Association of Artists Caracas Venezuela 2012 — Title of Guest of Honor and the Keys of the City in Resistencia, Argentina 2008 — Mention of Honor, I Biennial of Sculpture, Guadalajara, Mexico 2003 — Special Mention, Salon Exxon, National Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela 2002 — Ministry of Culture Prize, I Andean Biennial of Sculpture Modern Art Museum Ecuador 1993 — Great Prize Salon Arturo Michelena, Athenaeum of Valencia, Venezuela · Sculptors prize, I American Sculpture Contest. Resistencia, Argentina 1992 — Sculpture Prize, XVII National Salon of Art Aragua, Maracay, Venezuela 1991 — National Biennial of Sculpture Museum Contemporary Art, Porlamar, Venezuela 1986 · I Biennial of Guiana Art Prize, Museum of Modern Art Jesus Soto, C.Bolivar, Venezuela 1981 — Award of Acquisition, National Council for Culture, Caracas, Venezuela 1978 — City of Carrara Sculpture Prize, Italy · Painting Prize of the I International Biennial Young Artists, Viareggio, Italy 1976 — The Sculpture Prize at the II Salon of Art Fondene, Porlamar, Venezuela 1975 — National Salon of Young Artists. National Institute of Culture and Fine Arts, Caracas, · Venezuela

Publications & media

2023 — Interview on Radio France International by the journalist Jordi Batallé · Interview IVC Network / @es.goi · Published the catalog Neutrinos.Carlos Medina. Text by Domitille d´Orgeval · Reference in Spanish media: digital, print and television on the Madrid Luxury Art (MLA), · organized by the Madrid City Council and AGM Art Group 2022 — Article by David D'Arcy The Art Newspaper about Neutrino Spheres Pinta Fair, Miami, US · The journalist César Miguel Rondón interviews Medina at his program "En Conexión", · which he conducts daily from Miami, USA · The magazine Review, circulating in Venezuela, offers its cover and develops the main · article about the exhibition Círculos y Planos at Espace Villandry, Barquisimeto, · Venezuela 2021 — Published the catalog Beyond the Invisible. Text by Adriana Herrera · The art critic Dennys Matos, publish a Medina review at the Miami Herald, 2020 — The art magazine L´œil, reviews his exhibition at Galeria Graf Paris · The art critic Domitille D´Orgeval writes -Immersive Fragments penetrable installation at · Galerie Denise René · El Universal, venezuelan newspaper publishes an article about Medina 2019 — Appears in France TV his work Sphères de Neutrinos (Television program Laisser-vous · guider, Au coeur de la révolution française by Stéphane Bern, important presenter in · France · The art magazine, Artefacto circulating in Miami, offers its cover and the main article about · the work at the Palais Royal, Paris, Sphéres de Neutrinos 2018 — The Venezuelan producer Jorge Díaz, makes the first part of the documentary that will · reflect the activity of Medina in Venezuela - USA - France 2017 — Hermann Éditeurs, published in Paris, France, his book Medina. From the material to the · essential, by Bélgica Rodríguez, · The audiovisual platform ArtePorvenir, based in Miami, premieres the documentary Carlos · Medina: From the material to the essential · Published the catalog Fragments Essentiels, Paris, France, 2016 — Published his Essential catalog writes by the art critic Carol Damian, USA · Published the catalog Imperceptible, by the Colombian art critic Alvaro Medina · The TV program Entre dos in Miami, by Laura Fursic, reviewed his exhibition · Antonio Capra, produced an artistic video about the Essential Miami, USA · The art critic Dennys Matos, published in the magazine Art Nexus, No. 101, 2016, an · article about Medina

Sources: Carlos Medina dossier; Essential (catalogue, text by Bélgica Rodríguez).