The painter and sculptor Brian Nissen (London, Ingflaterra, 1939) in his book Farándula unveils 120 drawings made in Mexico during the years 1966-1974, during which time the artist was devoted to portraying the environment with humor, grace and irony.
In 2012 the Palace Museum of Fine Arts hosted a retrospective of Brian Nissen, to do research and investigate the location of his works for this exhibition, the artist found in his studio folders with drawings of the sixties and seventies.
«I found five or six good sized folders did not know were it is hard to believe but in 45 years I have moved country and studies. The folders were under a lot of things, I found 320 drawings from an early age mine. To rescue what better to do a book to make them known, «said the artist in an interview with the National Council for Culture and Arts.
The drawings made with ink and gouche caused the sculptor and painter remembered his early years in Mexico, where he arrived in 1963, and observed the eye with which saw the world in those years.
«Drawing is my first love. At that time drawn a lot, all the time. Of the 320 pictures I found 150 which seemed very good, some not, and others were half done. This work was unknown even to me.
«I ask, how can you not would remember this work? All artists are focused on what we do rather than on what we have done. My work has the feature I am always exploring, investigating and doing different things. In those years I did these drawings and my work then went in another direction, I started painting, was more abstract, but I was always drawing «.
The artist, who has exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico, the Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art, the Museo del Barrio in New York and the Whitechapel Gallery in London, said that his drawings in the book are divided into 11 topics (Campos, Urbe, Periplos, Leisure, Feast, Cachondeo, Office, Taps, Toilet, Amoríos and Striptease) reflection of Mexico where he lived.
«The book opens with drawings on the field, some I made on the ranch of my wife’s uncles, located in Veracruz border with Oaxaca, in the middle of the jungle. I was impresionadísimo with flora and fauna, then basically that chapter were drawings I did there. «
He said that other works that houses the publication, co-edited by the General Directorate of Publications and Editorial RM Conaculta are reflections of the city, cars, buses, travel. «These are things that lived since they are not deliberately but proposed topics are topics that eventually could gather. He drew everything he saw things in my environment and then with love because it also reflected that Mexico then «.
The artist shared that to reunite with his drawings wondered I did this? «It seemed that these drawings was the work of other people. When one saw them again returned to my mind, which I thought were good parts they no longer liked, and others I did not take into account seemed good, so I was selected for publication «.
The 120 drawings are accompanied by texts written by friends of the artist, as Elena Poniatowska, Álvaro Enrigue, Margo Glantz, Alma Guillermoprieto, Jorge Hernandez and Alberto Ruy Sanchez.
«I did not like the idea of showing pictures one after another. I decided to sort by subject and ask texts, which gives rhythm to the book «.
The artist, who in 1983 performed the work for Obsidian Butterfly Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo de Mexico -exhibition about prose poem by Octavio Paz, explained that his work has always been a musical way.
«In a drawing is very noticeable rhythm, the drawings of that time are very free, I would say that rowdy, which I later are more controlled. Seeing these drawings mid-sixties and seventies comes to my mind that this is a very different, more fun town and completely changed in size. When I arrived there were 5 million. «
He recalled: «I happened to me an environment where everyone who was involved in culture, were musicians, theater, cinema, writers, poets, artists were all friends who got together, we discussed, we spent some time together. This city has become a monster, a fun city became quite neuroses «.
About the title of the issue, noting that Farándula reflects the spirit of his drawings. «They are free, a little rowdy, fun, reflecting the time that I lived, besides presenting various texts. There are poems, funny, erotic texts, which helps to keep the book interesting and rhythm. «
Farándula. Drawings 1966-1974, Brian Nissen, will be presented by Margo Glantz, Julio Patan, Jorge F. Hernandez, Ricardo Cayuela and artist, on Tuesday, February 10, at 19:00 am at the Cultural Center Belle Epoque.
