THE SCULPTURE OF CARLOS MARE – BREAKING PARIS ON FLUCTUART

The Desperados Foundation for Urban Art invites the artist Carlos Mare, emblematic figure of New York graffiti, and highlights, for the first time in Paris, his career and his work around breakdancing. On this occasion the artist imagined a monumental sculpture which will be installed on the banks of the Seine, he will create a fresco more than 40m long in the heart of the Ménilmontant district. Everything will be punctuated by a cycle of conferences and other events.

Breaking Paris: when the art of breakdancing takes over the capital
With the desire to promote urban art and highlight its diversity and multidisciplinarity to as many people as possible, the Desperados Foundation for Urban Art has established itself in the artistic landscape through cutting-edge and daring programming, as evidenced by one of his latest exhibitions.

SUPER TERRAM
Varying the locations and formats, the Desperados Foundation is this time investing in several locations in the capital. She presents Carlos Mare – Breaking Paris, a protean project which takes place in public space and highlights the history and work of the artist Carlos Mare, emblematic figure of the golden age of graffiti new -Yorkers, for the first time in Paris. The opportunity to (re)discover this essential artist for contemporary urban art. A journey as a link between graffiti, breakdance and abstract art.

From June 12, we will notably find the largest sculpture of a B-Boy ever created by the artist. Installed on the Quai du Gros Cailloux, in front of the Fluctuart urban art center (and with its collaboration), it will be accessible to all walkers on the banks of the Seine, and will create a direct link with the dancers from all walks of life who meet in the capital.

From June 13 to 17, the artist will intervene on the very long wall of the Carré de Baudoin (thanks to the complicity of the Art Azoï association) through the creation of a large dynamic and colorful fresco which will also put breakdancing in majesty . Located in the heart of the Ménilmontant district, this work will be visible and freely accessible until October.

The exhibition will be punctuated by a series of events: conferences, screening, dance (more information to come). The Desperados Foundation has also produced a new documentary which highlights the artist’s journey, from his first graffiti on trains to his recent work around breaking, a discipline which has accompanied him throughout his career Carlos Mare, emblematic figure of New York graffiti.

An emblematic figure of New York graffiti, Carlos “Mare” Rodriguez began his artistic career in 1976 by painting on trains under the name “Mare139”, an abbreviation of “Nightmare”. As a member of the golden age of graffiti (1975-1985), he painted alongside many figures of this generation: Kel, Dondi White, Crash, Kase2, Noc167, among others. In 1984, pushing the limits of traditional graffiti, he became the pioneer of a new form of graffiti by evolving his art from lettering to sculpture. He sees it as a way to extend graffiti writing beyond the wall. In 1987, he went beyond the limits of his work based on letters to concentrate on sculptures with a more modernist appearance, making direct reference to the cubists, futurists and constructivists whose work he had always admired.

The B-Boy Abstracts series
In 2005, Carlos Mare began artistic work around breaking. Ingrained since his childhood, while he evolved alongside the legendary Rock Steady Crew as a visual artist, the discipline represents an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The B-Boy Abstracts series illustrates his exploration of breaking, movement, light, space and its correlations with abstract art. His deliberately stylized depictions of B-Boys allow him to focus on the essential and seek the perfect balance. The codified nature of the dancers: the head, the hands, the feet and the curve of the body, once understood, becomes as easy to read as words, thus opening up a whole new language to express the subtleties of breaking. His creations, both fluid and rigid, controlled and wild, allow the artist to rethink the station wagon as a form of abstract art.

“My objective was to break the visual codes of dance by moving away from cartoon figures to achieve a refined and clear representation of real body movements in a geometric and balanced form. The work echoes the legacy of the Cubists, Futurists and Constructivists, while combining graffiti writing and breakdancing. » _
Carlos Mare

Throughout his career, Carlos Mare has continued to push the boundaries of traditional graffiti and has constantly sought to bring a renewal to the aesthetics and vocabulary of the genre. He continues to be recognized as one of the most innovative artists in contemporary urban art and a prominent figure in breaking, due to his close history with the discipline.

The Desperados Foundation for Urban Art
Created in 2018, the Desperados Foundation for Urban Art is committed to the promotion and dissemination of art contemporary urban in all its forms. She makes a point of supporting emerging artists as more established, in the enrichment of their practice and the development of their projects. She favors exchanging, sharing and deploying its action at the heart of society through nomadic events. Bold, innovative and creative, the Desperados Foundation for Urban Art is aimed at both artists and actors of the artistic scene and the general public with freedom and sincerity.
https://fondationdesperados.com/