RUBÉN FUENTES FUERTES

TOYS

First published in 2015 by Le Dame LtdAll righst reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduce, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any forms or by means electrical, mechanical or otherwise, without first seeking permission of the copyright owners and publishers.All images in this catalogue are protected by copyright and should not be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder. Details of the copyrigh to be obtained from Le Dame Ltd. Copyright ©Le Dame Ltd

TOYS10th December 2015 - 7th January 2016

Rubén Fuentes Fuertescurated by Miguel Mallol

I met Rubén Fuentes Fuertes in 2013 and after a cordial introduction, we began a strong collaboration.The freshness of his work illustrates his huge dedication and love for his profession.

He is an artisan, a carpenter, but above all he is an artist. Rubén has a unique understanding of how to transfer his life experiences into each piece of assembly, truly combining reality and fiction. Constantly working on projects where he can share his originality and ambition, Rubén is still developing as a creator. He has found ‘the touch’ and combines this with an innate sense of the impact of the quality of his pieces on business, making him able to succeed in any market.

Wood has been the material with which Rubén has played and learned to manage from childhood. His work begins with wood used in the furniture production companies in the area he is living, Paterna (Valencia). Rubén uses the discarded pieces of wood to create sculptures and convert the material into works of art with an artisanal yet clinical assembly, thanks to his exhaustive knowledge of the types of timber, consistency and colours.

Over time, Rubén began combining his preferred medium with aluminium and marble, along with other materials like canvas, and methods such as engraving or serigraphy in paper. He sometimes inserts hints of reality into his work including brushes, furniture or pianos as a memory of his alter ego, of himself.

On a practical level, the essence of his work is based in the total that is composed of small units that by themselves, do not have reason to exist but when placed together they come alive forcefully and are accentuated by strong, energetic colours. Colour itself is the other element that is clearly present

‘Toys’

in Rubén’s work, it is joined by a practical and symbolic function as a nexus between elements. The special pigment that he uses is the glue that holds the fragments together and composes the artwork, giving it the characteristic idiosyncrasy that makes it distinctive and easily recognizable.

The works of Goya, notarios, cacti and toys have all been part of his previous casual or studied topics that are today manifested in pianos, guitars and a record player in remembrance of his period as a musician. He also creates installations and videos.

Ruben’s message is fine and direct like the cutting of the wood with which he works. He gives the element a second chance because, as he states, “I create objects to be seen and enjoyed, as soon as made they have to leave and live their life”.

Miguel Mallol

Miguel Mallol is a curator and art critic based in London. After earning a degree in History of Art at the University of Valencia and at the Lancaster University, he worked at the Fondazione Querini Stampalia for the Conservation and Exhibition Departments. After this experience he worked at the Venice Biennale 2003 and in January 2004. The same year, he became director at Matteo Lo Greco’s Art Gallery, where he collaborated at the organisation of the exhibition “L’Aoristico by Matteo lo Greco” at Galleria Internazionale di Ca’ Pesaro in Venice. In 2005, he moved back to Spain where he curated several private exhibitions. Among them, he worked together in his research with curator Carlos Pérez, at the exhibition “Dos siglos de industrialización en la Comunidad Valenciana” displayed at the MUVIM in Valencia, where he also started a collaboration as writer and art critic at El Mundo newspaper.

In 2007 he returned to Venice where he worked with artists such as Gaspare Manos for the solo exhibition “Urbis” at the Diocesan Museum of Venice; with Marco Tagliapietra at the installation “L’Isola dei Ciclopi” at Container Art and in 2008, at the Venice Architecture Biennale where he worked for the Spanish Pavilion. He collaborated with Mausi Viladomiu and the Fundació Ramon Llull for the Official Opening of the first Catalan Pavilion at the Visual Arts Venice Biennale 2009. He moved in London in 2011, where he worked in collaboration with several galleries. He has curated independent projects and participated curating three rooms at Artrooms2015, International Contemporary Art Fair. Since December 2014, he is Exhibition Curator at Le Dame Art Gallery at Meliá White House Hotel and works as Independent Curator collaborating with private and public institutions in UK and abroad.

Miguel Mallol

Rubén Fuentes Fuertes was born in Valencia, Spain where he graduated from the BA in Sagrado Corazón completing his formation with an MA in St. Charles Fine Arts University in Valencia.

He has been awarded in Sculpture Open Call 100 Kubik in Cologne and International Etching Festival as well as pre-selected for the prestigious CANSON International Drawing Prix just to mention a few of them. He has made several solo and group exhibitions with shows in New York, Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile, Mexico DF, Buenos Aires or Cologne as well as in important foundations and institutions in Spain like Casa de Vacas in Madrid or Antonio López Foundation in Cuenca. His works are in important public and private collections in Spain and abroad.

He lives and works between Valencia and Madrid.

Rubén Fuentes Fuertes

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2015 Casa de Vacas. Madrid. February 2014 DIMINUTIVO Fundación Antonio Pérez. Cuenca. June2013 “Obra reciente” . Galeria Kreisler. February – March. Madrid. Spain2012 “Stück fur Stück” . 100 Kubik Gallery. July. Cologne. Germany2010 Atelier, La casa de las Manos. Museo de la Ciudad. Valencia, Spain. December. Catalogue.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2011 ARCO Art Fair. Ruinart Commission. Reims. France. February.2008 ”Bolsos contra el cancer”. Museo de la Ciudad. Valencia

Featured Commissions2011 Ruinart, LVMH. Reims, France. Edition of 30 wood sculptures. Shown in ARCO Art Fair.2011 ICEX. New York Spanish Trade Commission.

Featured Collections: Antonio Perez Foundation, Cuenca. Spain, ICEX New York. USA, Aldeasa, Madrid. Spain. UPV. Spain, College of Architects. Valencia. Spain, Ruinart. LVMH. Reims, France, Fashion Art Institute. Panama.

Artworks

BOCETO COMPAC #3Acrylic on arches paper

50x37,5 cm 2015£ 670

BOCETO COMPAC 4#Acrylic on arches paper

50x37,5 cm 2015£ 670

SERIE CAMINANTE #2Acrylic on paper arches

63x46 cm 2015£ 850

SERIE CAMINANTE #1Acrylic on paper arches

63x46 cm 2015£ 850

TEXTURA DESTAcrylic and wax on paper , collage

60x50cm 2013£ 955

ESTUDIO PARA CACTUS #2Acrylic and resin on paper , collage

60x50cm 2014£ 955

ESTUDIO PARA CACTUS #1Acrylic and resin on paper , collage

60x50cm 2014£ 955

NOTARIOAcrylic and wax on wood

116x89 cm 2011

£ 2475

LUCAS EL ASTRONAUTAWood and paper61 x 46 x 20,5 cm

2015£ 1415

GOING HOMEWood and paper61 x 46 x 20,5 cm

2015£ 1415

NOTARIOWood and resin35 X 20 X 25 cm

2013£ 1770

GALERISTAWood, resin and aluminium

35 X 20 X 20 cm2013

£ 1415

PASEANTEWood, resin and aluminium

36 x 27 x 27 cm2015£ 850

COMPAC HEADResin and quartz25 X 25 X 17 cm

2015£ 1065

MARIOSKAS HISTORIA DEL ARTE #2Wood, acrylic and bronze

50 x 48 x 48 cm2015

£ 2500

CACTUSWood and aluminium

69 x 30 x 35 cm2012

£ 1275

ESTUDIO PARA V.GANDIAAcrylic on wood

65 x 50 cm2013

£ 1065

ESTUDIO PARA V.GANDIAAcrylic on paper

65 x 50 cm2013

£ 1065

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