Guillermo Mena

Bio

Guillermo Mena was born in Los Cóndores, Córdoba, Argentina (1986). His practice explores expanded drawing, working in the form of installations, performances, and moving images. With a dislocated process in constant movement, his production focuses on the exploration of atmospheric and geological phenomena as determinants of his own poetic identity as of a fragile territory in continuous transformation.

He holds a Bachelor degree in Visual Arts from the Libero Pierini School of Fine Arts in Río Cuarto (2011) and a Bachelor degree in Graphic Design from the 21st Century University of Córdoba (2008).

His work has been individually exhibited in galleries and museums across Argentina and Internationally, highlighting the Emilio Caraffa Museum (2016), the Genaro Pérez Museum of Fine Arts (2019), Gachi Prieto gallery in Buenos Aires (2021) and the René Bruseau Museum in Resistencia, Chaco ( 2019).

He recently exhibited individually at the Jewett Gallery of Wellesley College in Massachusetts, United States (2021), and his work was presented at Aussenwelt Gallery (Montreal, Quebec) and Azur Gallery (Madrid, Spain)

He received the grant from the National Fund for the Arts of the Government of Argentina on four occasions. In recent years, he has carried out international residencies, including the SIM Residency, Reykjavik, Iceland (2022), Amanei, Aeolian Islands, Italy (2022), R.A.R.O, Barcelona, ​​Spain (2022), Proyecto ACE, Buenos Aires, Argentina ( 2021) Banff Center for the Arts and Creativity in Canada (2020) and EAC Montevideo, Uruguay (2019).

At the same time, he has worked for international film projects as an animator and animation director, highlighting the VR Short Film and Series 4 Feet High (Official Selection of the Sundance Film Festival 2021, La Biennale de Venezia and Winner of the Jury and Audience Award of the SXSW Festival in 2021.)

He currently works and lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

CV

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2021 “The end of a landscape” –  Jewett Gallery, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States.
2021 “The perception of distance” at Gachi Prieto Contemporary Art Gallery – Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2019 “Moonlight”, Rene Brusau Fine Arts Museum . Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
2019 “Each distance seems to pretend a search” . Luogo Art Gallery, Rafaela, Santa Fé, Argentina.
2018 “This is not an scape”, Franklin Arregui Cano Cultural Centre, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2018 “Yearn, stop yearning” . Piccadilly Gallery . Córdoba, Argentina
2016 “Kusanagi no Tsurugi” Emilio Caraffa Fine Arts Museum, Córdoba, Argentina.
2015 “Destruction and deterioration” Espacio Cultural Tintoreria Japonesa, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2015 “Instance of the deteriorated” Casa Taller, Cordoba, Argentina.
2015 “Failure #x” LA SALITA Dalmacio 837, Córdoba, Argentina.
2014 “Another day. Cloudy” Provintial Culture Hall, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2012  “Nubláte”, Rio Cuarto Fine Arts Museum, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.

RESIDENCIES

2022  Amaneï, Santa Marina Salina, Italy.
2022  R.A.R.O – Barcelona, España.
2022  Pouch Cove Foundation – Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, Canada.
2022  Fish Factory – Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland
2022  SIM Residency – Reykjavik, Iceland.
2021  Ishibashi Gallery, Middlesex School Art Department – Concord, Massachusetts, United States.
2021  Exploration Residency – Project ACE, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2020 BaiR Late Winter Program . Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity – Banff, Alberta, Canada.
2019  Espacio de Arte Contemporaneo ( EAC ), Montevideo, Uruguay.
2018  ACE Fellowship – Project ACE, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017-18  PAC Project/Studio – Gachi Prieto Gallery, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS / COLLABORATION

2023 Sanctuary – Curated by Hayley Ferber, Abrazo Interno Gallery, The Clemente Cultural Center – New York, United States.
2022 The World in a handkerchief, Impact 12, Bristol, United Kingdom.
2022“Vindur/Viento” (Performance/Installation) – Azur Gallery, Madrid, Spain.
2022 A Cumulus Hiatus with Anne Isabelle Leonard and Coralie Gauthier – Aussenwelt Gallery, Montreal, Canada.
2019 Fantasma Sucio, Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes, Genaro Pérez, Córdoba, Argentina.
2019  En busca de los Andes, colaboración con Daniela Rivera, Fundación ACE, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2018  Patio, Gachi Prieto Galeria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2018  Tensión/Expansión. Rojo al Frente. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2018  Poéticas del NO MIEDO, Rojo al Frente, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017  Patio de Salvataje 02, Desarmadero, Oficina de Artistas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017  Quizas, Paseo de las Artes, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017  De Natura, PAC, Panal 361, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017  Mecanismos de lo Indeterminado, PAC, Panal 361, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017  Mercado de Arte, Córdoba, Grupo A700, Zona Bonino, Córdoba, Argentina.
2017  Colectivo Río Cuarto, Centro Cultural Franklin Arregui Cano, Palacio Municipal, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2017  Acción de Carbonización, Espacio Bataclana, Córdoba, Argentina.
2016  Extraña Naturaleza . Bitácora de Vuelo . Howard Johnson Hotel . Córdoba Capital . Argentina.
2016  Mercado de Arte . Córdoba . Piccadilly Galeria . Zona Crespo . Córdoba Capital . Argentina.
2015  Las Otras Partes . Sala Ernesto Farina . Córdoba Capital . Argentina.
2015  Lazos – Casa de la Cultura . Río Cuarto . Córdoba . Argentina.
2013  Modulado, el tono del dibujo / Casa de la Cultura . Villa Allende . Córdoba, Argentina.
2013  Ser en tiempo / Sala Hector Otegui . Riberarte . Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2011  Miradas Sobre Tolkien (Colectiva) Sala ARP Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2011  Dibujantes y Fotógrafos . Sala ARP . Río Cuarto . Córdoba . Argentina.
2010  Raros Instantos. Guillermo Mena + Soledad Mansilla . Sala ARP Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2010  Lo Oscuro y Otras Partes . Lo que Casi se Vió . Centro Cultural Andino . Río Cuarto . Córdoba . Argentina.

AWARDS / FELLOWSHIPS / GRANTS

2021 Creation Grant, National Fund for the Arts, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2021 Jury Honorific Mention – Kenneth Kemble Visual Arts Award – San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2020 Raul Urtasun and Frances Harley Fellowship for Young Emerging Artists from Argentina, Banff, Alberta, Canada.
2019  Education Grant, National Fund for the Arts, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
2019  Circulation and Promotion Grant, National Fund for the Arts, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017  Creation Grant, National Fund for the Arts, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017  Jury’s Honorific Mention- Mural Contest, Provincial University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
2016  Mural Contest Winner, Economic Sciences School 70th Anniversary . National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.

ARTIST TALKS / VISITING ARTIST

2023  Artist talk + Visiting artist – Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States.
2023  Artist talk – Boston University, Art department, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
2023  Clinica 4×4 – Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2021  Artist talk and Visiting artists – Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

2011  Bachelor in Visual Arts .  Libero Pierini Fine Arts School . Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
2007  Bachelor in Graphic Design . Siglo 21 University – Córdoba, Argentina.

COMPLEMENTARY EDUCATION

2019 360° Video and Virtual Reality Course – by Damián Turkieh – Film University, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2018  “Nothing is personal” – Workshop, by Tomàs Espina and Juan Manuel Wolcoff, Gachi Prieto Gallery, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2018  Individual Seminar ( work analisis clinic ) with Verónica Gómez.
2017  PAC Artists Program,  Gachi Prieto Gallery, Buenos Aires . Argentina.
2017  Artist writing workshop –  La Pesquisa . by Hernan Camoletto . Córdoba, Argentina.
2016  Artist Program “Obrar the artista” by Fabhio Di Camozzi . Córdoba, Argentina.
2015  Work analisis seminar with Rodrigo Alonso . Art Boomerang Project . Cordoba, Argentina.
2015  Work Analisis Workshop “Horizontal” by Lucas Di Pascuale . Documenta Escenica . Cordoba, Argentina.
2012 /2014  Art Boomerang . Federal Arts Program by Daniel Fischer . Córdoba, Argentina

OTHER PROJECTS

2021 – Concept Artist / Animator – Fire Through Dry Grass – Documentary – New York, United States.
2018/2020 – Animation Director, 4 Feet Series ( 2020 Sundance Film Festival Selection, SXSW Jury Award, Venice Biennale Selection ) – Córdoba, Argentina.
2015 – CURRENT.  Art Director and Founder Stormur Dsgn ( Design Studio).

PARTICIPATIONS / SELECTIONS

2021  Salón Nacional de Artes Visuales – Dibujo – Casa del Bicentenario – Buenos Aires, Argentina
2019  Salón de Artes Visuales Felix Amador, Quinta Trabucco, Vicente López, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2019  1er Bienal Nacional de Dibujo, Museo de Bellas Artes Franklin Rawson, San Juan, Argentina.
2019  Xº Salón Nacional del Bicentenario, Museo de Artes Visuales de Concordia, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
2019  Primer Salón de Artes Visuales DJM, Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes Fernando Bonfiglioli, Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina.
2018  VI Premio AAMEC de fotografía contemporánea Argentina, Córdoba, Argentina
2018  XIV Salón de Artes Visuales Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017  Salón de Escultura Patio Olmos 2017, Córdoba, Argentina