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Joaquim Baptista-Antunes
Biography
Joaquin Baptista Antunes, who would rather sign his works as Babtistantunes, a combination of his mom and dad’s names, is a remarkable case of a self-taught artist on the verge of being recognized by the professional art world. Born into a large peasant family on March 1953 in Serta, Castelo Branco, he grew up in one of the poorest regions in Portugal. Baptistantunes spent the majority of his childhood working with his dad, as a shepherd, where his imagination developed the very creative dream world inhabited by the characters which he sculpts in his artwork.
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When he got older Baptistantunes began reading a lot, especially art history. He could not help feeling some the authors he read were full of lies, and out of this rebellious spirit he began to make his own works of art.
Baptistantunes life changed when his brother died in the war in Angola. His brother’s death made him realize life is short, and Baptistatunes began to save his money to travel. It is in New York City where he discovered the work of Chagall and Picasso, who excited his imagination, giving him a new clarity about his artistic expression and work. In his dreams, Baptistantunes summons the many different aspects of life which he loves. He chooses what he wants to sculpt from these dreams and looks to nature to find materials and further inspiration to complete his works of art.
Sculpture Title: La Chance – Walking along a river by his home in La Motte Tilly, the artist came across an old withered rope on the ground, once used to tie boats up to the dock. After setting part of the rope on fire to reshape its form, he intertwined the new shape of the rope with the stalk of a mushroom tree. Sculpting it a new body and using paint to provide further detail, the artist made the rope into a woman, giving it a chance to have a new life.
Sculpture Title: Rossinante – Cervantes’ romantic hero of a crazed idealist, with a wild imagination, Rossinante really is the French Don Quixote. A painted metal pot serves as the base of the work. The man is made from electric wires, paint, and glue. His steed is composed of melted metal. The elements which make up the piece are all electrically connected, unifying the work.
Sculpture Title: Le Prissonier du Temps – By straining himself through excess work and thinking, this wooden man is always busy. He loses his freedom to spend his time in any other way than work, becoming a prisoner of time.
Sculpture Title: Le Premier Vol – The first flight is of a figure flying in the sky like a bird, very aware of his surroundings and of others. His eyes are wide opened looking out, and green fingers are spread out grasping what he can. Le Premier Vol is a kind figure, willing to help others.
Sculpture Title: Bailarina – Inspired by a dream, the ballerina is an homage to all dancers. She is a star, and reflects the artist’s love for ballet and the opera.
Sculpture Title: Grambinus – Grambinus is the artist’s version of Bacchus, the Greek God of wine. His body is twisted in a drunken position, and hands and head are painted red and white, the colors of wine. The artist found the root, which he used to compose the piece, on the ground by the river. He respected how water shaped the root, and used it as an inspiration to fulfill his vision of the sculpture.
Permanent collection at Gramercy 32 Fine arts.
Tel 212 780 0932