António Tavares
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Antonio Tavares is an artist living near to OBRAS-Portugal. Occasionally he works in one of our studios. He is a frequent and highly appreciated visitor of our artist talks and open studios and has become a dear friend. In 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2019 he had short work periods at OBRAS-Portugal and in 2018 at OBRAS-Holland.
Since 1990 Antonio Tavares had solo exhibitions in Portugal, Spain, Brazil, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Intro by the artist (summarized)
"My art is a part of me that materializes my inner walk that make me a more conscious being. My first experience with art was when I started to know Leonardo Da Vinci. His profound curiosity for all knowledge was fascinating. My themes are almost always related to the reality that surrounds me. I started painting the landscape, like the post-impressionist masters. In a next period I incorporated the human figure into abstract compositions and later I reached pure abstraction. Today I return to nature but keeping an abstract language. I work with oil and acrylic painting and sometimes I do watercolour and graphite drawing. I like to compose a colour that is the result of countless overlays of different colours. I try to be free and follow what goes on in my heart. I never think of a message when painting. For me to paint is to paint… I think that we should appreciate art as we enjoy fresh water on a summer day, without the need for explanations. But of course I hope my painting gives something positive to the observer and thereby contribute to a better world. That would be a sign that I am in this painting with truth and this is all I wish for. Even although my work is partly built on knowledge of technique, Art history, philosophy and spirituality, this does not define my intentions. What motivates me most is the pleasure of picking up a brush and looking for a colour on the palette, mixing and spreading it on a canvas. It is a fantastic, mysterious, childish and innocent pleasure that I can't explain." Artist statement 2020 (summarized)
Do we need trees? This phrase inspired me to a new set of works. The answer is Yes, of course. But not only for biological and environmental reasons. The tree also represents our most important connection to nature, our roots, the origin of our life on earth. I pay here my tribute to nature, which from the beginning was my most natural motivation in painting! |
an impression of his work
Field work with Kimberley Trowbridge (USA)
Some time ago António had an ad hoc collaboration with Kimberley. They painted each other painting the landscape. António surrounded by OBRAS friends:
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