2007 » Venezuela » National section

ESPERANZA. Venezuela: Impossible + Imaginary projects.

It’s been over twenty years since a group of young artists migrated from Caracas to New York City, Milan, Paris, London and Prague with a genuine interest in the new tendencies erupting in Theatre Design, Fashion, Sound Engineering and Opera. Their departures developed equally into a dreamed access to studies not yet conceivable in Venezuela, which eventually fused into a new knowledge packed with the essence and sensibility of the Caribbean. Time has seen these artists become the pioneer generation of Venezuelan design. Their work has gained national and international significance, and their work keeps reaching greater heights of artistry. There is no desire to look back. Today, we have reunited them to flirt with the idea of the impossible. At this high point in their careers they have been encouraged to explore on paper ideas that still seem unimaginable in Venezuela. We have asked them to celebrate the creative exercise of letting the notion of the real and the imaginary collide in the creative process. In response, rejected projects flew out of drawers, and inconceivable concepts regained life. Here, then, is the fanciful (at times bizarre) congress of the imagination which we present under the title Esperanza. Esperanza (Hope) is a window into the creative world of this group of talented artists, who have proven to be fundamental to the Venezuelan Theatre/Arts scene. With this exhibit their hope for these projects to come to life is born.

Luber Mujica (Graphic Artist) Camilo Daza (Economist)

Exhibiting artists / ateliers

• Juan Souki

* 18.12.1980
Specialization: director, author, theatre director, teacher, media artist
Education: MFA in stage direction, Columbia University, New York
Collaboration with theatres: Cultura Chacao, Trasnocho Cultural, Teatrex, Teatro Nacional de Colombia.
Teaching activities: Imaginarios
Awards: Southern Exposure, Shubert Fellow.
Additional information: Founder and Director of Imaginarios, an artist run creative studio in Caracas Venezuela. Souki is known for directing theatre, multimedia, concerts and experiential projects. His work can be seen at Imaginarios.com
• Edwin Erminy
• Marcelo Añez (Marcelo Anez)

Education: Specialized Associate Degree in The Recording Arts
Continuing collaboration with directors: Juan Souki
Awards: 3 Grammy Awards: 1-Gloria Estefan Alma Caribeña(2000). 2-Shakira MTV Unplugged (2000). 3-Thalia Arrasando(2001)
Additional information: Mr. Anez’s background is more related to music production, but he has always explored other fields, with sound design for theater one of the most recent.
• Oscar Carvallo

* 09.10.1965, Caracas
Education: Universidad Santa María. Law Degree (Caracas, 1990) / Domus Academy, Masters in Fashion Design (Milano, 2002)
Continuing collaboration with directors: Diego Risquez, Juan Souki
Additional information: Oscar Carvallo Flagship Store opened in Paris in November 2005. 10 Rue Cambon 75001. Paris, France. www.oscarcarvallo.com
• Fernando Calzadilla

* 23.06.1949, Caracas
Specialization: director, teacher, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, sound designer, scenographer, visual artist
Education: BFA in theatre design, NYU; MA in performance studies (2000); doctoral candidate in performance studies, NYU
Collaboration with theatres: Teatro Profesional de Venezuela 1993-2006 / Taller Experimental de Teatro 1994-2006.
Teaching activities: Performance Art. DASH, Miami & FIU, Miami (2006); Script Writing. MDC-Telemundo (2005); Performance TA, NYU (2000-2003)
Continuing collaboration with directors: José Ignacio Cabrujas, Elizabeth Albahaca. Moisés Guevara
Additional information: Publications: Identity Case-d (Women and Performance, 2002) Performing the Political (TDR, 2003) Artists in the Field (Contemporary Art and Anthropology, 2005) http://www.fernandocalzadilla.com/