Biography:
Neraldo de la Paz, born in Matanzas, Cuba 1955.
Alain Guerra, born in Havana, Cuba 1968.
Mediums:
Mixed media installations, Sculpture, Painting & Photography.
Exhibitions:
GUERRA DE LA PAZ | 'GREEN ZONE'
Download ReleaseFebruary 14th - March 22nd, 2008
The Green Zone - the International Zone in Iraq - is a heavily guarded diplomatic area of closed-off streets in central Baghdad where US personnel live and work. It is completely surrounded by high concrete blast walls and barbed wire. Access is only available through a handful of entry points, all of which are controlled by armed guards. It is the American military's heavily fortified and painstakingly Americanized home –The Green Zone residents eat standard American food, almost all of it brought in from abroad. They have an elaborate gym, satellite TV, computers, DVDs, and telephones with U.S. area codes, as well as a bar known as the “Country Club” - the place to go for Cuban cigars, fresh cuts of beef and a decent wine. The Green Zone is a little America in the middle of a war zone embedded in the heart of Baghdad. Contrary to popular belief, the Green Zone is lush and tropical - It’s a perfect Middle Eastern paradise.
It is a famous paradox that walls that protect you also hem you in. In the hands of the artist duo Guerra de la Paz, this absurd unreality serves as a catalyst for the discussion of the sociopolitical effects that such fictitious fortresses create in society. Through the use of the discarded abundance of the American lifestyle, these artists compose a grand fabric interpretation of an idealized landscape. The idyllic scenery is fashioned out of discarded garments, hand picked from mountainous piles of clothing designated to over flowing landfills created by our disposable culture. The artists’ interest in the recycled object as an art medium examines the western concepts of cultural ownership and fictitious ideologies. Tree trunks made of tons of clothing weigh heavy on the ground, brown pants, sweaters, and jackets are industriously twisted into life like roots lolling around the gallery floor. Overhead a canopy forms where green garments hang gently down and sways in the breeze.
No strangers to large provocative installations, Guerra de la Paz in these works as in others: Oasis (2006); Pieta (2005); Eden (2003) and Overflow (2002), pricks at America's cultural conflicts -seeking to define struggle, victory, and failure - while taking society's belongings and parading them about is as if to say, "No really, the emperor has no clothes." Though presented as a sheltered oasis of a sort, the forest beckons the viewers forward leading them towards a distant red light where the artists' presentation of the sculpture Martyr - a lone camouflage clad crucified figure hangs ominously on a pristine white wall. This sculpture stands as a personification of the ideals of universal sacrifice, which is freely sequestered from all its citizens lost to endless political plots for control and domination. A symbol of defiance and faith, whether a pawn of government or a true devote, here the artists are able to draw parallels between the two images that incarnate dialogue, questioning and defying authority. - Lynn del Sol
2009
April, Welcome to “Old Clothes Mountain”, FHM Taiwan, Issue 106
March 27th, A ”Space ”That’s Filled by History’s Shadow, by Jessica Dawson, The Washington Post, pg CO2
March, The Shape of Things to Come : New Sculpture, hardcover by Saatchi Gallery
March 8th, Guerra de la Paz : mitologia y medio ambiente, by Janet Batet, Artes y Letras, El Nuevo Herald
January 22nd, A New Mythology, by Carlos Suarez de Jesus, Miami New Times
Vernissage TV - Guerra de la Paz / Studio Visit / part 1/2 & 2/2
January 10th, Interview with Vernissage TV
2008
December, The Fabric of Creation: Guerra de la Paz makes Sculture out of Clothes, by David De Russo,,Cover Story SYMPOSIUM 08, pages 20 through 25
November 5th, ARTINFO, In Berlin, a Preview of Whats to Come
September 3rd, Not For Sale: Elm Streets Elsewhere Reinvents retail, by Amy Kingsley, cover story, YES WEEKLY
August, La Guerra de la Paz: Particulars creadores en Greensboro, by Adolfo Briceño, Que Pasa Piedmont, 08-28 - 09-03, 2008, Local A7
July 12th, Art on their sleeves: Fashions political stripes show substance in civil liberties exhibition in Sheboygan, by Mary Louise Schumacher, JS Online, Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
June, Contemporary Textiles, the fabric of fine art, black dog publishing, Essay by Bradley Quinn
June, Guerra de la Paz/Daneyal Mahmood Gallery, by Tatiana Flores, Art Nexus, Issue 69, pg 135
May, NoMilk Today, Editor Billy Miller, Volume 1, Issue 1
April, Camo/Joes, Guerra de la Paz, Compiled by Gillian Sneed, NY ARTS, April /May Issue, pgs 56-57
April, Guerra de la Paz, Artist Feature, by Michelle Weinberg, MAG-Miami Art Guide, Issue 13, pgs 28-33
January, Livraison, Editor - Johan Sandberg, Annual, Issue #3, Stockholm, Sweden
2007
Miami Contemporary Artists, Paul Clemence and Julie Davidow, Forward by Elisa Turner, Schiffer Publishing LTD
September, Trace Magazine, In Love and War, by Steven Psyllos, Issue 79, pgs 42 & 43
September, When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Editor – Billy Miller, Volume 1, Issue 1
September, A Ragtag Team, by Anne Tschida, Blueprint Directory, Miami, Fl, Sept-Oct 2007, pgs 30-34
August, Ruby Magazine (Argentina) Issue 19
June 22nd, Expand and Contract, by Michelle Weinberg, Miami Sun Post, ART
May 20th, Exhibition ends an era, by Tom Patterson, Winston-Salem Journal, Arts and Entertainment, pg F3
May, Guerra de la Paz: Steven Psyllos on the genius of Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz, NY ARTS, International Edition, May/June, Volume 12, no 5/6, Magazine Cover and interview, pgs 6-7
March 12th, the ART Couple, by Alicia Zuckerman, The Miami Herald, Tropical Life, Section E, cover pg and pg 6-7
March, Thread Bangers, Thread Heads with Rob & Corrine, Episode 4, www.threadbanger.com, www.craftzine.com
February, Critic’s Pick, by Elisa Turner, The Miami Herald, Tropical Life, Section G, 02-16, pg. 45
2006
December, Art Basel Miami: Offbeat Highlights from the Fair Trail, by Margery Gordon, ARTINFO
December, Notes From Art Basel, Miami Beach, by Steven Psyllos, Art Fairs International
July, Discarded Clothing Blooms Anew as Tropical Paradise, by Margaret Hawkins, Chicago Sun Times
May 21st, CIRCA, Un Hito en Las Artes, El Nuevo Dia, Cover Page, Por Dentro, Domingo, 21 de Mayo
2005
December, Guerra de la Paz, Joe Pictorial, MAG-Miami Art Guide, Screen Shots, Isuue 03, pgs 40-45
December, Ideological Activists, by Carlos Suarez de Jesus, Miami New Times, ART, pg 46
July, Jaguar Transports Contemporary Art to the Hamptons, by Carrol Bennet Gerber, LASplash.com
July, Scope, A Hit In the Hamptons, by Sarah Douglas, ARTINFO News
July, Scope Hamptons, Premier League, by James Wescott and Molly Kleiman, Art Fairs International
July, Un-Hampered, by Ben Davis, ARTNET Magazine
June, Art Chicago in the Park, by Marisol Martell, Art Nexus, Issue 57, pg 119
June, Teaser, by Onajida Shabaka, Miami Art Exchange
April, Art in Focus, by Milagros Bello, Arte al Dia News, English Edition, pg 4
2004
December, A Fine Sense of Place: Sites-Miami 2004, by Alfredo Triff, Miami New Times, Art section, pg 45
Decemeber, Guerra de la Paz: The Four Seasons, by Beth Feinstein Bartl, Arte Al Dia News, English Edition, pg 4
Novemebr, Recycled Art, by Eileen Soler, Broward Herald, Neighbors section 11-11, pgs 1 and 3
November, Recycled Reality, by Micheal Mills, New Times Broward-Palm Beach,11-4, Art section, pg 43
November, Unnatural Nature, by Michelle Weinberg, Miami New Times, 11-4, Art section, pg 52
October, Men of the Cloth, by Beth Feinstein-Bartl, South Florida Sun Sentinal, Hollywood, Art and Culture, 10-13, pg 3
October, Secondhand Roses, Clothes Make the Men, by Gail Shepherd, New Times Broward-Palm Beach, Seen/Be Seen, 10-07, pg 32
October, The Four Seasons, by Samantha Salzinger, Curator’s Exhibition Statement-Brochure, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Hollywood, FL
March, Arteamericas goes for quality, by Elisa Turner, The Miami Herald, Tropical Life-Section E, 03-25, pg 2
March, Featured Artists: Guerra de la Paz, Interview by Milagros Bello, Arte Al Dia News, pg 9
March, Ephemeral Trends II, at Merrill Lynch Arteamericas 04, by Milagros Bello, Arte Al Dia News, pg 4
February, Entre el Arte y la Vida, by Armando Alvarez Bravo, El Nuevo Herald, Artes y Letras, Sunday 02-01, Section E, pg 1
2003
December, Critic’s Choice, by Elisa Turner, The Miami Herald, Weekend Section, 12-26, Art, pg 25
December, Report From Miami-Expanding Horizons, by Roni Feinstein, Art in America, pg 57
November, Between Art and Life: From Joseph Cornell to Gabriel Orozco, by Peter Boswell, Curator’s Exhibition Statement-Brochure, Miami Art Museum
January, Guerra de la Paz, Overflow, Television Interview by Kevin Wynn, Downtown Dade, Miami-Dade TV, aired through 01-3
2002
December, Emerging Artists Enlighten New Spaces, by Elisa Turner, The Miami Herald, Sunday, Visual Arts, pg 9M
September, Uneven, Yes, but NO Shows Turnout Bodes Well for Art Basel, by Elisa Turner, The Miami Herald, Sunday, 09-15, Visual Arts, pg 6M
About Guerra de la Paz:
Guerra de la Paz is the composite name that represents the creative team efforts of Cubam born artists, Alain Guerra & Neraldo de la Paz. Both began working as a collective in 1996 when they decided to share a studio in Miami's Littel Haiti. Since then it has evolved into an ongoing collaboration that has grownn by way of experimentation and constant dialogue, combining two conservative personalities into one single element with a visual language that conveys a universal message; A croos-cultural humanist look at dichotomies and parallels, mixing classicism with the general consensus of the day and iconic imagery with a complexity of identities.
Solo Exhibitions
2009 OTHERWORLD, Carol Jazzar Gallery, Miami FL, through 03-14- 2009
2008 6 Thai Trannies in Heaven, Elsewhere Artist Collaborative, Greensboro, NC, permanent Installation
2008 The Green Zone, curator Lynn del Sol, Daneyal Mahmood Gallery, New York, NY.
2007 Flower Children, Carol Jazzar Gallery, Miami Fl.
2006 Oasis, Site-Specific Installation, Organized by Sofia Zutautas for The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Michigan Avenue Galleries, Cultural Center, Chicago, IL.
2006 Don't Ask Don't Tell, Curated by Milagros Bello, Hardcore Art Contemporary Space, Miami, FL,
2006 Guerra de la Paz, Curated Lynn del Sol, Jack the Pelican Presents, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY.
2005 Teaser, Curated by Anthony Spinello, Liquid Blue Gallery, Miami, FL.
2004 The Four Seasons, Curated by Samantha Salzinger, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Hollywood, FL.
2004 Circle-Rectangle-Square, Organized by Rem Cabrera, Cultural Resource Center, Government Center, Miami, FL.
2003 Seven Deadly Sins, Curated by Guerra de la Paz, The Buena Vista Building, Suite 222, Miami Design District, Miami, FL.
2002 Overflow, Site-Specific Installation, Curated by Gary Moore, Funded by Miami-Dade County Department of Parks and Recreation, African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, Miami, FL.
2002 the back room, Multipart Installation, house next to Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL.
2002 Breakthrough, Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL.
2001 Glossies, Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL.
Group Exhibitions
2009 Abstract America: New Painting and Sculpture, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2009 Space Unlimited, Art Museum of the Americas-Organization of American States
2008 The Labyrinth Wall, curated by Jeanette Ingberman and Papo Colo, Exit Art, NYC, New York
2008 Polychrome Affinities, Curated by Michelle Weinberg, Main Library, Miami-Dade Main Public Library System, Miami, FL
2008 Vested Interest, Curator Lena Vigna, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
2007 Love/Sex/War, Exit Art Gallery, New York, NY.
2007 No Need to Touch, Curator Renee Cagnina, ArtCenter Miami, FL
2007 TUTTAVIA POVERO! (Still Poor), Curator Douglas Ferrari, SICA The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts
2006 Grendel, Jack the Pelican Presents, Cerro Market, Wynwood Arts District, Miami, FL.
2006 Newark Between Us, Curated by Rupert Ravens, National Newark Building, Newark Arts Council, Newark, NJ.
2005 Identity of a Scene, Curated by Douglas Voisin, Miami, FL
2005 Hardcore Menu: Samples and Dishes, Curated by Milagros Bello, Hardcore Art Contemporary Space, Miami, FL
2005 Aerial-Terrestrial, Curated by Milagros Bello, Miami-Dade College, South Campus, Building M, Kendall, FL
2005 Love/Money, Curated by Nikki Beem, Miami Light Project, Miami, FL
2005 Cintas Fellowship Exhibition, Curated by Gabriela Rangel, Americas Society, New York, NY
2005 Something To Stare At, Curated by Lynn del Sol, Melody Weir Gallery, Chelsea, New York
2005 On the Quickness, Curated by Lynn del Sol, Haven Art, Bronx, New York, NY
2005 AIM, Abstraction In Miami, Curated by Brook Dorsch, Dorsch Gallery, Miami, FL
2004 Sites Miami, Organized by William Kaddell, Lummus Park, Miami, FL
2004 all art collections start small, Organized by Rem Cabrera, The Art Gallery At Government Center, Miami, FL
2004 Spectacle of Sound, Curated by Barbara Young, Main Library, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Miami, FL
2004 Summer Miami :Works on Paper, Curated by Leonard Tachmes, Leonard Tachmes Gallery, North Miami, FL
2003 Between Art and Life: From Joseph Cornell to Gabriel Orosco, Curated by Peter Boswell, Miami Art Museum, Miami, FL
2002 To Kiss the Spirit, Artemisia Gallery, Organized by Columbia College Art and Design Department, Chicago, IL
2002 No Home Show, Curated by Robert Chambers, Studio Residence Miami, FL
2000 Les Chemical Carnales, Curated by Ed Paschke, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
1999 The Altered Object, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
1999 Emerging, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997-2000 A Game of Chance, Curated by Hollis Sigler, Traveling Exhibition-
Printworks Gallery, Chicago, IL
Susan Cummings Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
Palo Alto Cultural Center, Palo Alto, CA
Rockford College Art Gallery, Rockford, IL
Santa Monica College Art Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Heron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN
Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO
Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
Selected Public Collections
The Saatchi Collection, London, England
21C Museum Foundation, Louisville, KY
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University
The Cintas Fellows Collection of The Oscar B. Cintas Foundation, NY
Study Collection, Miami Art Museum, Miami, FL.
The Corporate Collection of Linklaters Worldwide The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva Switzerland
The Randolfo Rocha Collection, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Rudin DeWoody Collection, New York, NY.
Marlborough Gallery, New York, NY.
Beale-Lana Interior Design, New York City, NY.
Vara Global Fine Arts, LLC, New York City, NY.
Chrissy Crawford Art Advisory, New York, NY.
Touradji Capital Management, New York, NY.
Boswell Family Collection, Miami, FL Patricia Pierce Collection, Chicago, IL
Fischel Bock Collection, UK
Swanson Colection, Chicago, IL
