Camilo Ontiveros wins the Premio illy at ARCOMadrid_ 2010
February 19, 2010
Madrid - February 19th, 2010 – This morning at ARCOMadrid_2010 the Premio illy was awarded to Camilo Ontiveros, the Mexican artist presented by the Gallery Steve Turner Contemporary.
The judging panel – comprising two independent curators, Kris Kuramitsu and Christopher Miles, together with Carlo Bach, illycaffè’s artistic director – thus motivated their decision:
«The work presented by this artist in this exhibition is not among the biggest or the brightest, but this does not prevent it from being among the boldest, and the most expansive. °For this award, we chose, from among a group of impressive young artists, some of whom already have received greater attention and reward, an artist whose practice we believe embodies the experimental spirit that often has driven some of the most compelling work to have come out of Los Angeles, and that has defined the era in which Los Angeles has come of age as a cultural capital. This artist’s work touches upon a complex range of genres and concerns, from immigration and urban economies to process art, minimalism and finish fetish. In his recent work involving the informal economy of in Los Angeles, this artist purchased old washing machines from used appliance dealers, refurbishing and refinishing some into glossy objects, which re-entered both the economy and culture as works of art while other machines, left as they were found, occupied a temporary role within an art installation, but ultimately to be recycled as scrap metal. This project questioned the very definition of the art object and its value, while nonetheless celebrating the art object, and its complex position within culture.. His practice is one that reveals itself as deeply concerned with the social, the situational, and the relational aspects of art, but one that also is born of a deeply personal inclination, and an affection for the experiential dimension of art. We are pleased to grant this award to Camilo Ontiveros».
The artist received a prize of Euro 15,000, and was given an opportunity to present illycaffè a project to design a range of art coffee cups for the illy Art Collection, which the company has produced for over 15 years now with the involvement of international leading artists and young talents.
THE AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY:
Camilo Ontiveros – Born in Mexico in 1978, Camilo Ontiveros received an MFA from UCLA in 2009 and a BA from the UCSD in 2006. He is co-founder of Lui Velazquez, an artist residency program in Tijuana and co-founder of Imprenta, an alternative space in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. He had two solo exhibitions in 2009, the first at the Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena (curated by Andrew Berardini) and another at Steve Turner Contemporary. Ontiveros often uses found washing machines and other discarded appliances in his work. In so doing, he explores issues relating to immigration, the border between Mexico and the United States, unofficial economies, labor and most importantly, notions of value.
Here follows a list of the 15 young artists who participated in the contest, where they were represented by 11 art galleries:
ACME LOS ANGELES: Tomory Dodge; CHERRY AND MARTIN: Erik Frydenborg; CHINA ART OBJECTS GALLERIES: Walead Beshty and Andy Ouchi; L.A. LOUVER: Ben Jackel; MARGO LEAVIN GALLERY: Brenna Youngblood; PERES PROJECTS: Hohn Kleckner; REDLING FINE ART: Erlea Maneros, Mario Correa and Kate Costello; STEVE TURNER: Camilo Ontiveros; THE HAPPY LION: Allison Cortson; THOMAS SOLOMON: Analia Saban; KATHRYN BRENNAN: Jenni Spota and John Williams
The illy Prize at ARCOmadrid is part of a much wider support project dedicated to emerging talents in art and contemporary design, launched more than 15 years ago by illycaffè in partnership with the most significant fairs and exhibitions of Contemporary Art at international level, among which Artissima (Turin), Art Brussels (Brussels), and Art Rotterdam (Rotterdam).
Based in Trieste, Italy, illycaffé produces and markets a unique blend of espresso coffee under a single brand leader in quality. Over 6 million cups of illy espresso coffee are enjoyed every day. illy is sold in over 140 countries around the world and is available in more than 50,000 of the best restaurants and coffee bars. espressamente illy, the chain of franchised Italian-style coffee bars is now present in 40 countries and comprises more than 230 outlets. With the aim of spreading the coffee culture, illy has founded the Università del caffè, the centre of excellence offering theoretical and practical training on every aspect of coffee for coffee growers, coffee shops staff and enthusiasts. On a global level illycaffè employs over 780 people and has a consolidated turnover of €280 million. (2008 results)
Per further information:
Anna Adriani /Christine Pascolo, illycaffè Trieste - Tel +39 040 3890111
Alberto Bottalico/Alessandra Bettelli/Marco Milioli - Cohn & Wolfe Milano - Tel +39 02 20239366 - 374 - 384
Barbara Martinez, illycaffè España – Tel +34 93 303 4050, barbara.martinez@illy.es
Julián García Calvo, Jefa de Prensa ARCO – Tel +34 917225717, julian@ifema.es
