painting exhibit catalogo: twice upon a time

April 2012 - Washington, DC

“Twice upon a time...”

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An artist does not normally allow somebody else to intervene in his work, let alone finish it. In “Twice upon a Time…”, two visual artists based in Miami challenge this premise with a very interesting and joint endeavor, in which some of the paintings are started by one of them and finished by the other.

Through a set of texts and canvases of lively colors and forms, Isabel Brinck and Laura Villarreal tell stories that reflect not Through a set of texts and canvases of lively colors and forms, Isabel Brinck and Laura Villarreal tell stories that reflect not only their strength and passion, but the richness of their own diverse as well complemented cultures. Isabel is from Chile and Laura is from Mexico, two very different artistic traditions that at the same time have many things in common and are bonded by a long-standing friendship.

We are delighted to present “Twice upon a Time…” at the Art Gallery of the Embassy of Chile, exhibit that showcases elements of common identity in exploring new ways of cultural diplomacy.

Nicolás Bär ArmstrongCultural AttachéCultural AttachéEmbassy of Chile to the United States

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“Twice upon a Time…” is a story. The story of our daily lives taken into the realm of painting.

A story presented as the catalyst of ideas and feelings, reminding us that wherever we are, we live in the same surreal world, a world full of fantasies. By using words for evidencing our existence, and painting as the medium to present them we unveil this wonderful relationship between words and images. The result is an analog work in which borders are crossed between disciplines; taking painting into the space possessed by words and iconography bordering the line between drawing and painting.

““Twice upon a Time…” is a dynamic project, a collaboration between two artists, two women and two human beings. Each one of us begins a story and transfers this idea into the canvas. The second one gives the story an end, and completes the piece started by the first artist. This process continues until all the pieces are completed. By working this way, we are nour-ished by each other’s ideas and creativity and this gets us into an imaginary game that plays in another realm, out of reality. Our intention is to show a world without frontiers, an imaginary world where we seek to enclose in a few words, our vision of a real and transcendent world.

In “Twice upon a Time…”, each of us has her own vision of how the story will end, but when the other one intervenes the story with her own experiences, the story has an unimaginable ending. Not knowing how the story will end or the path that the painting will take, by allowing another soul to imprint her visions, fulfills the purpose of letting go the ego and the need of being in control, both of which are inherent in human nature.

From her inside, Isabel Brinck shows us through her work, a world of fantasy, where her dreams and creatures appeal to her childhood innocence, getting in touch with the freedom of being a child once again.

At the same time, Laura Villarreal looks from her inside out, grasps reality and returns back inside to process the images of At the same time, Laura Villarreal looks from her inside out, grasps reality and returns back inside to process the images of her daily life. Giving as a result an urban vision plagued of imaginary beings that come to life in the canvas and still retain an essence of real life.

The unification of two worlds, those of two women, whom in their enormous amount of convergences and divergences find common ground in the story that comes to life as painting.

Two women, two worlds, two stories, two ways of making art; all this comes together in one majestic story that never comes to an end: “Twice upon a Time…”.

Isabel Brinck & Laura VillarrealIsabel Brinck & Laura Villarreal

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“Little Fairy” / 54” x 98” / mixed media on canvas

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Isabel Brinck & Laura Villarreal

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“The Kite”/54”x86”/mixed media on canvas

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Isabel Brinck & Laura Villarreal

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Isabel Brinck & Laura Villarreal

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Isabel Brinck & Laura Villarreal

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“Two Birds in a Cage” / 54” x 98” / mixed media on canvas

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Laura Villarreal & Isabel Brinck

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Isabel Brinck & Laura Villarreal

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Isabel Brinck & Laura Villarreal

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Laura Villarreal

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Isabel Brinck

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Laura Villarreal

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Isabel Brinck

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Art Gallery - Embassy of Chile1732 Massachusetts Ave., NWWashington, D.C. 20036

Graphic Design and Photography:Isabel Brinck, Laura Villarreal, Francisca Miranda, Alvaro Bustamante

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