Serie de Hachas de Kioto

Carlos Mendoza

Sculptor. Son of Rafael Mendoza and Carmen Andrade. He studied at the Cristóbal Rojas School (Escuela Cristóbal Rojas) (1970-1976) where he was a disciple of Juan Jaén, and he also studied sculpture at the Royal College of Art (London, 1977-1980) where he received the title of Master of Arts, with the supervision of Kenneth Armitage, Bernard Meadows, Brian Kneale, Terry Powel and Philip King.

He worked in the department of restoration and conservation of the National Art Gallery (Galería de Arte Nacional, GAN, Venezuela) (1981-1982). Between 1981 and 1988 he was a professor at the Cristóbal Rojas School. He was president of the National Association of Young Sculpture (Asociación Nacional de la Joven Escultura) (1982). In 1977 he achieved his first individual exhibit at the Conac Gallery, with 25 large-format pieces made of mahogany wood.

During his beginning stages as an artist, he made impeccable carvings under the influence of the English school of Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. These pieces evidenced "a space that is obviously not empty, but can be described in terms of planes, edges and mass, interchangeably, like any solid form" (1979, p. 63). He subsequently developed serial structures such as A Study of a Aquare (wood, copper and stone), which was recognized with the Eugenio Mendoza Award (1986).

Carlos Mendoza’s artistic evolution is linked to an intense work ethic related to his application of geometric rigor and, on the other hand, to his use and combination of materials such as stone, metal and wood.

SELECTION OF AWARDS RECEIVED:

1976: Julio Morales Lara Award, XXXIV Salón Arturo Michelena.
1977: Honorable Mention, V Salón Nacional de Jóvenes Artistas, Caracas.
1983: First Prize in Sculpture, VII Salón Aragua, Museo de Arte de Maracay.
1984: Andrés Pérez Mujica Award, XLII Salón Arturo Michelena.
1985: Encuentro Nacional de Escultores Award, Escultura '85, Fundarte.
1986: Eugenio Mendoza Award, III Edición del Premio Eugenio Mendoza, Sala Mendoza.
1987: Metro de Caracas Award, III Bienal Francisco Narváez.
1990: Special Mention, Salón de Escultura 50 Aniversario del BCV.
1991: Second Prize, V Bienal Francisco Narváez.

Sources: VEREDA.