Gamaliel Rodríguez
“I’m interested in the notion of security/insecurity produced by fictional images. The fact is that I would like to achieve clear images, but at the same time a misinformation of what is happening in the picture; a mental gap between the images and its representation; a gap between what you observe and the message that it could produce”.
DESCRIPTION
Born in 1977 at Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Gamaliel Rodríguez uses ballpoint, sharpie and acrylic to create images that have multiple meanings, one by the history behind each piece (with its curiosity for the investigation) and the other, by the meaning proposed by the audience. This last one creates an imaginary that even surprises Gamaliel. He is influenced by the concept of "Rhetoric Image" created by theorist and philosopher Roland Barthes which stated that: "How does meaning get into the image? Where does it end? And if it ends, what is there beyond"?
Militarization, the human brain and its complexities, technology, and how all of them affect our world past and future; are his most noted themes of work. His interest on investigation and surrounding all the possible answers to the places he draws, makes him wonder about what they "are not telling us".
Gamaliel worked as an infantry officer for the US military for 2 years, where he learned about following routes, maps and creating strategies. He still carries those concepts on, applying them in every new project.
EDUCATION
2018
Assets For Artists. MASS MoCA. North Adams, MA.
2016
Longroad Projects Residency Program, Jacksonville, Florida.
2011
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture Residency Program, Skowhegan, Maine.
2005
Master in Fine Arts Kent Institute of Art and Design – Kent, England UK.
2004
Bachelor in Communications in Visual Arts University of Sacred Heart, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020
Gamaliel Rodríguez La Travesía/Le Voyage. Mass Moca. North Adams, Massachusetts.
2018
Uncertainty Gates. Natalie Karg Gallery. New York.
2016
Gamaliel Rodríguez. Reminiscent of Time Passed. SCAD Museum of Art. Savannah, Georgia.
2015
Diorama. Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2014
LandView. Walter Otero Contemporary Art. San Juan Puerto Rico.
2013
Fallout. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. San Juan Puero Rico.
2012
Solo Projects-ARCO Madrid: Focus Latinoamerica. ARCO Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo. Madrid. Spain.
2010
PINTA London 2010. Solo project comisariado por Pablo León De La Barra. Londres, Inglaterra.
2009
The concepts of Fuel & Full. Galería Espacio Mínimo. Madrid, España
SOLO Projects. CIRCA Puerto Rico'09. The International Art Fair in the Caribbean. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018
Contemporánea Internacional, Nuevos Coleccionistas en Puerto Rico. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. San Juan, PR.
Drawing Room Contemporary Art Fair. Galería ATM. Madrid, Spain.
2017
Glexis Novoa: Bad Niños & Gamaliel Rodriguez: Greetings from the Abandoned Land. David Castillo Gallery. Miami Beach, Miami.
2016
Caleidoscopio y Rompecabezas. Latinoamérica en la Colección MUSAC. Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Spain.
Art Lima Fair. Galería Impakto, Perú.
2015
Benefit auction for Museum of Art Puerto Rico. Figure 1744. The Cofco Biochemical Co Ltd complex in Yauco, Puerto Rico., 2014. Paddle8.
Frescos: Ciudadanos de Ninguna Parte (5 años después). Galería Arte Universidad Sagrado Corazón. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
AIM Biennial 2015. Bronx Museum of Arts. July 15, 2015.
DCG Summer Show, June 10 - August 31, 2015. David Castillo Gallery,
"Muestra Nacional", Arsenal De La Puntilla y Museo Casablanca; San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2014
"Affective Architectures". Aluna Art Foundation, Miami, FL.
“Cielo & Tierra”. Galeria Impakto. Lima, Peru.
"Interpreted Architecture”. Oliver Michaels, Gamaliel Rodriguez, Harvi Sahota. MADE Gallery. Montgomery Alabama. USA.
2013
“No hay enemigo pequeño”. Walter Otero Contemporary Art. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2012 .
“Interconexiones: Lecturas curatoriales de la Colección Permanente”. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2011
“The End of History... and The Return of History Painting”. Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem (MMKA). Arnhem, The Netherlands.
ARCO 30 Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo. Madrid. Spain
2010
ZONA MACO. Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo Mexico. Mexico D.F
2009
“NOSTÀLGIA DE FUTUR. HOMENATGE A RENAU” Centre del Carme, Valencia. España.
“Event Horizon”.curated by Jennifer Schmidt the Project Space Gallery, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.
2007
“Political & Poetical”. 14th Tallinn Print Triennial. Kumu Kunstimuuseum. Tallinn, Estonia.
2006
Muestra Nacional de Artes Plásticas 2005-2006. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. National Selected Group Show, San Juan Puerto Rico.
2005
Latitude: MA final Show, University for the Creative Arts. Kent, England.
BIENNIALS
Debtfair Whitney Biennial. Organized by Occupy Museums.Whitney Museum, New York.
COLLECTIONS
MFA Museum of Fine Art Boston. United States.
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico MAPR.
Comunidad de Murcia. Murcia, Spain.
LITERATURE & REVIEWS
2009
Octubre, Periodico Publico España. “Un bolígrafo para meter miedo” review by ISABEL REPISO.
Septiembre, periódico El cultural España, Sección Arte. Gamaliel Rodríguez. Review by Abel H. POZUELO.
Septiembre, Diario ABC España, section ABCD. “Energía Bélica” review by Fernando Castro-Flóres.
2007
Artnexus Magazine. Issue 66 Review by Manuel Alvarez Lezama.
Agosto, El Vocero. Escenario. “Obras maestras boricuas a Florencia y Estonia"
Mayo, Primera Hora. Cooltura. jueves, 10 de mayo de 2007. “Armado con arte”.
Marzo, Primera Hora. Cooltura. jueves, 15 de marzo de 2007. “El enguaje universal de Gamaliel”.