Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandra Zermeño.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was a teenager I visited a sculpture exhibition, it was the greatest experience for me, at that moment I decided to study arts, I started taking a clay-modeling course: the teacher didn’t explain the process and I just made out like I understood… She was so angry with me because of my freedom to work! She gave me a C grade. Despite this discouraging beginning, I decided to be an artist so I applied to study at the San Carlos’ Royalty Academy in Mexico City; Life gave me what I wanted. I gained my Degree and Master Degree in visual arts at that Arts Academy.
My early influences were two incredible artists, both working with the human figure and experimenting with unconventional materials: George Segal (USA) who makes sculptures with Gipson molds and Antony Gormley (UK) who uses iron in his pieces but makes his molds with the same process as Segal. When I met them I realized I could do everything I wanted to do. I love to be and work every day in my studio and experiment with different textures and materials. My favorite methods are human and animal figure studies, plastiline modeling, molds and casting resin and since two years ago I started to cast in Bronze.
In my sculptures, I use human reference as a symbol of imminent transformation. Here I can match two objects of the art study; on one hand, I want to find out if is my existence and human existence develops through the sensible or intelligible way and how the humankind makes their own evolution. In the other hand, I am interested in individual items (little modeling plastiline pieces put it on the piece one by one, flowers applications) which together consolidate the concept of human identity and it has a feminine approach, which is re-defined itself in my work through the repetitive handling patterns, forms and applications.
Allegorically, I use these materials to make reference not only to an individual or social definition of the subject of study but the set of atoms and cells that allow the tissues of the bodies of living beings are unique and unrepeatable and perfectly functional for survival. With discipline, respect and love that I have in the lab is where I could experiment with materials and processes that require long processes and extreme care in its conduct and conclusion (modeling, molds, castings, finishes and armed) thereby allowing not only realize the work in specific, if not highlight and note in the work my mental, physical and emotional states that during the process, questioning my own existence and daily travels.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course, my professional path had been full of obstacles. My work and my career has been developed through mistakes but those mistakes have helped me to grow and have a better understanding of sculptural and professional processes. Life and art are complicated but I´m always trying to live through the knowledge of the experiences, do not waste time missing the process.
For me is very important to growth through the experiences. Nowadays I can work freely, doing wherever I want to do: I have more knowledge, experience, visual education and a consolidated concept. But it’s not the end, I’ll be the eternal student. I’m like an open book searching for new challenges, I visualize my future full of prosperity. I want to live and die making art.
Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I studied Visual Arts Degree with an average position in the High Academic Performance Program at the Academy of San Carlos, UNAM in Mexico City. From 2006 to 2008 I completed my Master studies with honors in the same Institution. My interests have been since my beginners, the human body exploration through the sculpture. My art production has been present in more than 50 collective exhibitions and Biennale in Japan, Germany, Spain, Canada, USA and Mexico.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
Since my beginnings, it was so important to exhibit my work in museums because people like to visit those more than other places. Sometimes I can choose the place (because of the place itself or the currency or the space that could be useful for my work), but mainly I receive invitations from some galleries and museums, they invite to me to exhibit some specifics works. I have 16 solo exhibitions in Mexican galleries and museums, some of them are: “Cellular physiology”, Chavez Morado Gallery, Guanajuato (2015); “Cherchez la Femme”, Women´s Museum (2014) y “BIDA (Internal Biology of Animals)” Chopo´s Museum (2012).
Her work belongs to José Vasconcelos Public Library, Presidential Project it is called City of Books, I produced three sculptures which are exhibited in the Castro´s Leal Collection in collaboration with the renowned architect Bernardo Gómez-Pimienta. This artwork was commissioned by Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes in 2012. My sculptures could be seeing all over the Mexican Republic thanks to Taktile Project in 2016. In 2016 I was invited to the ESSARTS International Sculpture Symposium to produce a public sculpture in Quebec, Canada.
I have received several awards too, fellowships and honors, which include: 1er Acquisition Prize V International Biennale Sacred Contemporary Art, Monterrey (2015). International Tokyo´s Prize: To the Master of Arts, Japan (2011). Honorific Mention V National Art Biennale, Yucatán (2011). First prize National paint and sculpture contest, Women in Arts (2009). Acquisition Prize I International Biennale Sacred Contemporary Art (2008) Monterrey.
In 2007 I won the contest Open art and the Annual Contest organized by Leopoldo Flores University Museum in Mexico State. In 2016 I was invited to be part of the Arts & Letters Council of the Mexican Museum in San Francisco, CA, where I´ll exhibit in November 2018. And on April to June 2019, I´ll have a solo exhibition in The Customs House Museum and Cultural Center in Tennesse.
Contact Info:
- Address: 98 L, San Rafael, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City. CP 06470
- Website: www.alejandrazermeno.net
- Phone: +015562811291
- Email: zermeno.alejandra@gmail.com
- Instagram: zermeno.alejandra
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alejandra.zermeno?ref=bookmarks
- Twitter: AZSculptstudio
- Yelp: https://oneartonline.com/AlejandraZermeno
- Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/alejandrazermeno
Image Credit:
Armando González and Germán Cuellar
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