GETTING ALONG WITH MAGPIES: ULISES RESENDIZ
“Along the road the magpies walk, with hands in pockets, left and right.They tilt their heads, and stroll and talk. In their well-fitted black and white.” — Judith Wright
St. Kilda based popular Surreal/symbolic artist, Ulises Resendiz likes to experiment with vivid colours juxtaposing provocative ideas. Sad and happy subjects mixed together with outrageous ideas means that Mexican artist Ulises Resendiz has entered the room. You can’t miss him, he is as colourful as his artwork: a Mexican mixture of the colour red with a splash of charisma and a pinch of sexiness.
From the age of 8, he learned the basics of drawing, painting,since the age of eight, he started his art studies at the PAPE Museum of Monclova in Mexico. He learnt different techniques such as drawing, painting, modelling clay, theatre and dance. Whilst at the Faculty of Architecture of the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Resendiz studied watercolour and ceramics and was included in several group exhibitions. He emigrated to Australia with his partner in 2012, and participated in the “Window to Mexico” exhibition at Federation Square in Melbourne, and since 2013 he has belonged to the Artist’s Studio 10 in Barkly Street, St. Kilda.
Q: Who are some of the artists that inspired you?
A: The first artist I got inspired by when I was about 8–10 years old was the Mexican abstract painter Manuel Felguerez, I liked the geometric pieces combined with another object with no shapes, it was surreal and abstract, like a dream. I was also inspired by Vicente Rojo and one of my favourite artists Leonora Carrington, one of the surrealist women from the last century. I have also been inspired by filmmakers and writers like Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro.
Q: What are some of the negatives of being an artist?
A: I would have to say that besides having to find the time to create you have to find the time and ways to connect and socialise with other artists and galleries.
Q: And the positives of being an artist?
A: The freedom to create and paint whatever I want, whatever comes out of my mind.
Q: What have been your favourite completed projects to work to date?
A: I had a couple of solo and group exhibitions in Mexico. Being part of Artists Studio 106 allowed me to experiment with curating a couple exhibitions; it was a lot of fun. I had my first solo exhibition “Loteria” in Australia in 2015. I started the communication with Fringe Festival for our Studio 106 group the exhibition “The Power of 20”, then I was also in charge of the curation with the help of other artists in the studios. Most recently I exhibited in “The Bauhaus, the Grid and its Distortions”.
Q: What projects are you have planned for the future?
A: I am working on finishing some paintings for the solo exhibition that I am having in September 2018, the exhibition explores the relationship between humans and magpies. After several magpie attacks, I started to figure out through colours and textures on how to deal with these singular creatures. In dreams or nightmares, the solution for me to become one of them by wearing a magpie mask.
Q: Where do you see yourself in a few years?
A: I want to keep creating art in different mediums, whatever comes out of my imagination and to keep being involved in all types of artistic projects.
“How to get along with Magpies” is at the Brunswick Gallery, Level l, 322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy — Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm, 26 September — 09 October 2018. Not to be missed!
- Robert Chuter
