Victor Vázquez
San Juan, PR, 1950
Biography Details
Photographer, creator of objects, constructions, and installations, teacher. Vázquez studied psychology and sociology at the University of Puerto Rico, and has a master’s in education from Seton Hall University in New Jersey (1974) and doctoral-level work in education and comparative religion at NYU (1983). During the eighties, he visited the Orient to study the culture of India, China, and Japan. He then studied photography with Jan Jurasek and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York and the Maine Photographic Workshop. His career has earned Vázquez prizes both in Puerto Rico and abroad, and since 1983 he has taken part in countless solo and group exhibits, such as the Havana Biennial in 1997. His photographs, warm in light and tone, explore his fascination with the ancestral, with rites, religions, and dreams, and with the duality sacred/profane; with the body, its sexuality and death; and with pain and pleasure. His installations employ perishable materials such as straw, rope and jute, and such elements as dirt, bones, and dried animals, in an allusion to rituals, altars, and offerings.
Artist Statement
In the last years my work has been focused in exploring ideas related with the construction of knowledge, history, memory, migration and identity. The basic objective and intention is to investigate and reflect on how the state (the establishment) imposes, reproduces and legitimizes acceptable social practices, and how it defines the knowledge and its reality. In the contemporary world we are living today, it is evident that there is a very thin line between knowing and not knowing... Reality and fiction, truth and lie... Every day it is less clear and harder to discern.
The current society is worried with formulating questions about the traditional concepts of history, memory and, in some instances, art. Every day we discover how the information that reaches us - about politics, religion, science, art and normal every day news-, is falsified and intentionally manipulated to create confusion and making it harder for us to make any kind of interpretation of information and events. We know that none of this is new, as history has always been written and controlled by the people in power. However, today's technology and its new means of communication, with all of its webs of manipulation apparatuses becoming more sophisticated each day, make it harder to provoke individual discernment and decoding of social practices. My art practice consists in establishing a dialogue between what is out there and ways of communicating, with the intention to problematize and generate questions about subjects related with globalization, migration, history, etc.
Currently, I am investigating the concept of the archetype of pre-established politics and the problem related to the displacement and dislocation of knowledge and communication. Art today, as a tool, gives one freedom to communicate using any kind of means. By intentionally creating metaphors through the use of language -the one it is used to manipulate and control-, and becoming directly involved with the community, I try to problematize and question the ways people perceive, understand and relate with one another and their environment.
QUOTE:
“Using a conceptual framework, I intent to present, from an archaeological perspective, themes related to memory, history, migration, the body as semantic structure and the relation of word and image, presented to reflect on dynamics related to discourse of established construction narratives.” October 2017
Formation
Education
- Bachelor of Psychology and Sociology. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Comparative Religions Studies. New York University, New York, United States
- Studies photography with Jan Jurasek, Europe
- School of Visual Arts, New York, United States
- Maine Photographic Workshop, Maine, United States
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2013
- No vamos a llegar pero vamos a ir, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- SLUCAG – Southeastern, Louisiana University Contemporary Art Gallery, Louisiana, United States
2009
- Displacement, Dislocation and Encounter, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
2008
- Tierra de Mudos, New York Photo Festival, Dumbo Art Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Body to Body, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Diálogos, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
2006
- Selected Works, Galerie Lina Davidov, Paris, France
- Líquidos y huellas, Walter Otero Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Espacio Proyecto ACE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2005
- Líquidos y huellas, Martha Schneider Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2003
- Réquiem para una/por una cultura, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Foto LA, Couturrier Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Ancestros, Galerie Baudoin Lebon, Paris, France
- Fronteras, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
2001
- El cuerpo y la memoria, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Galería de Arte Contemporáneo David Pérez-MacCollum, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Cultura-natura, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Obra Reciente, Sicardi Gallery, Houston, Texas, United States
1999
- La Casa de las Almas, Martha Schneider Gallery, Chicago, Illinois; Daniel Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States; Centro Wilfredo Lam, Havana, Cuba
1998
- Obra Reciente, Galería Botello, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- La Casa de las Almas, Festival de Trois Continents, Nantes, France
- Cinco años de trabajo, Bienal de Cuenca, Museo de las Conceptas, Cuenca, Ecuador
1997
- El cuerpo y el ave, Martha Schneider Gallery Chicago, Illinois; Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States; Galería Botello, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1994
- El autorretrato y el cuerpo extendido, Galería Botello, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Encuentro de fotografía latinoamericana, Museo Alejandro Otero, Caracas, Venezuela
1993
- El reino de la espera, Galería Hostos, Hostos Communitty College, Bronx, New York, United States
Group Shows
2013
- Muestra Nacional de Arte, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
- Interconexiones: Lecturas curatoriales de la Colección del MAPR, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- Phantoms, Shadows and Phenomena, Kennedy Museum of Art, Athens, Ohio, United States
- The Dinning Room Project, Jewish Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
- ArtBo Art Fair, Bogotá, Colombia
- Art Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
2010
- Philigráfica, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Out of Focus, Museum of Latinamerican Art, Los Angeles, California, United States
2009
- PHOTOSHOPPING, Museum of Latin American Art, Los Angeles, California, United States
- El Golem, Point Of Contact Gallery, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States
- Art Miami Art Fair, Juan Ruiz Gallery, Miami Florida, United States
- Puerto Rico: Human Geography, photography and video of the XXI century, Museum of the Americas, Washintong DC, United States
- Fia Caracas, Juan Ruiz Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela
2008
- CIRCA 08, Walter Otero Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Contexto puertorriqueño: del rococó colonial al arte global, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Faccia Lei, 52nd International Art Exhibition, Spazio Thetis, Arsenale, Venice, Italy
2006
- Rewind,Rewind…Puerto Rican Art Video, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Present Art XII, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Reality (i) reality- Biennial, XIV Encuentros Abiertos de Fotografía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Gigantografías, Fachada del Palais de Glace, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Muestra Nacional de Arte, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Foto Miami, Daniel Azoulay Gallery, Miami, Florida, United States
2005
- Feria Arte América, Galeria Juan Ruiz, Miami, Florida, United States
- Galerie Lina Davidov, Paris, France
- FIA, Galería Juan Ruiz, Caracas, Venezuela
- Classical and Contemporary Art Fair of Chicago, Galería Juan Ruiz, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Feria Arte América, Walter Otero Gallery, Miami, Florida, United States
- Art Paris, Galerie Parisud, Paris, France
- L.A Art Fair, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
- ARCO, Madrid, Spain
2004
- Assassins of the Mirror: The Body and the Writing, Walter Otero Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Miami Art Fair, Daniel Azoulay Gallery, Miami, Florida, United States
- ARCO 2004, Madrid, Spain
- Asesinos del espejo, Walter Otero Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003
- Only Skin Deep, International Center of Photography, New York, United States
- Art Basel, Galería Daniel Azoulay, Miami, Florida, United States
2002
- Hot City, Galería Daniel Azoulay, Miami, Florida, United States
- La fotografía, Museo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Noorderlincht Foto Festival, Fries Museum, Netherlands
- Foto Bienal, Museo de Bellas Artes, Houston, Texas, United States
2001
- El cuerpo y la memoria, The Lehigh University Art Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Museo Del Barrio, New York, United States; Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- Nuevas Perspectivas en Fotografía, San Antonio School of Art, Galería San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Puerto Rico en Paris, UNESCO, Paris, France
- Arte Puertorriqueño, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1998
- Cinco artistas latinoamericanos, Sicardi Gallery, Houston, United States
- Pequeño Formato, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- L.A. International Biennial Art Invitational, Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States
- ARCO, Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid, Spain
- VI Bienal de la Habana, Centro Wilfredo Lam, Havana, Cuba
- American Voices (FotoFest), Smithsonian Art Gallery, Washington DC, United States
- Feria de Arte de Chicago, Galería Martha Schneider, Chicago, Illinois, United States
1996
- Fotoseptiembre, Centro de la Imagen, Mexico City, México; Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995
- Still Life Body as Object in Contemporary Photography, America’s Society, New York, United States
- International Photo Meeting, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- 3er Certamen Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Island Journey, Galería Hostos, Hostos Communitty College, Bronx, Nueva York, United States
- Cruzando caminos 6 fotógrafos latinoamericanos, Museo de Arte de Lima, Lima, Perú
1994
- Pequeño formato, Galería Luiggi Marrozzini, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- V Bienal de la Habana, Havana, Cuba
- El arte del Caribe hoy, Documenta Halle, Kassel, Germany
- FotoFest, Houston, Texas, United States
- Arte Olímpico, Chase Manhattan Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- ARTIS: Imágenes contra el SIDA, Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
- Resident Artist. Cuerpos pintados, American Foundation, Santiago, Chile
- Comissioned Artist. ARCO, International Fair of Contemporary Art, Madrid, Spain
- Scholarship. New York University and New York State, New York, United States
- Mention, Cuenca Biennial Exhibition. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Ángel Ramos Foundation Award. Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Award for Best Art Book, The Realm of Waiting. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Grant. Fondo Puertorriqueño para el Financiamiento del Quehacer Cultural, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Scholarship. Seton Hall University, New Jersey, United States
Collections
- Artium Center, Museo Vasco de Arte Contemporáneo, Victoria Gasteiz, Spain
- Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States
- Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- The Smithsonian Institution, Organization of American States, Washington DC, United States
- Centro Wifredo Lam, Havana, Cuba
- Casa Las Américas, Havana, Cuba
- Lehigh Photography Collection, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, United States
- ARTIS, Paris, France
- Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Los Angeles Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Museo de Historia, Antropología y Arte, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Point of Contac Gallery, Syracuse University, Siracuse, New York, Unites States
- Fundacion América, Santiago, Chile
- Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris, Paris, France
Bibliography
Books
Castellote, Alejandro. "Mapas Abiertos Fotografía, Latinoamericana",Barcelona, España: Ediciones Lundwerg, 2002.
“Víctor Vázquez 1989-2007”, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 2007.
“Dislocation, encounter, displacement”, Seraphin Gallery, Filadelfia, Pensilvania, Estados Unidos, 2010
Rodrigo Alonso, Rosalina Cazali, Maria A. Lovino, Lilliana Martínez. “NO SABE / NO CONTESTA, “Prácticas fotográficas contemporáneas desde America Latina”, Arte x Arte, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2008.
“Body Politics, Prácticas Del Cuerpo En La Fotografía Latino Americana”, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2009.
Alejandro Castellote, Juan Antonio Molina, Iván de la Nuez. “Mapas Abiertos”, Lunwerg.editores, Madrid, España, 2003.
Contexto Puertorriqueño: del Rococo colonial al arte global, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2007.
Poupeye, Veerle. “Caribbean Art”, Thames And Hudson, 1998.
“Mundos Creados”, Photography from Latin America, Ideas book, The Netherlands, 2002.
“Changing The Focus 1995-2005, Latin American Photography”, Museum of Latin American Art, Los Ángeles, California, Estados Unidos.
Catalogues
Zaya, Antonio. "Víctor Vázquez: Del cuerpo del Sentido de Eros y Thanatos", Catálogo Líquidos y Huellas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2005.
"Mundos Creados 2002", Festival Noorderlicht, Holanda. Curador Wim Melis, Ensayo de Virginia Ratón.
Marshall, Alexander. "Obra reciente". Ensayo de “Significado y contenido”. Seraphin Gallery, Filadelfia, Pensilvania, Estados Unidos, 2001.
Magazines
Sánchez, Suset. "Historias nómadas de un cuerpo híbrido y subversivo". art.es, No.13 (Madrid, España), 2006.
Ferrer, Elizabeth. "Víctor Vázquez", Art Nexus, (Estados Unidos), No. 51 Volumen 2, 2003.