Drawings by Manuel Olías
Thursday, January 1, 1970, 12:00 am, 0
I began this series of drawings in April of 2006 as an experience similar to what I call a horizontal process, as in a non-verbal diary that does not so much describe daily life, but rather gives in to it´s influence.
Under the pretext of returning to draw, to manage principally under the influence of the simple mark and the clean outline, as in the work of engravings, I developed the following procedure. A process that consists in etching upon carbon paper onto the surface of the work. Pressing, scratching and tracing parallel lines using a calligraphy writing nibs, a simple tool made from a nail fastened to a pen, as well as keys, fingernails and currency, I work solely under the influence of chance, a technique in which I am unable to see the result.
Drawing in this manner, indirectly onto the paper, convokes a factor of uncertainty. An attempt to control chaos without the eye`s vigilant assistance, and always invariably achieves random results in which both the clean line and it´s inherent opposite coexist.
Manuel Olías lives and works in Madrid, Spain.
His interests revolve mainly around drawing and painting and include other media like video, video-dance and net art. Although mainly self-taught, he attended classic engraving and drawing classes at the school of Artesanos, the Escuela de Artes y Oficios and the Fine Arts University of Valencia.
He has exhibited his work in Spain since 1990. While still in his home city, he shows at Lae.sferazul gallery and artists club, a reference in the spanish independent art scene of the late nineties. During this decade he undertakes numerous commissions for graphic works, decoration and visuals for clubs. He also draws and self-publishes comics, and creates performances together with Taller Dsastre collective.
He moved to Madrid at the end of 1999 to be art director for a company dealing with free software and web desing. While still freelancing some design jobs, since 2002 he focuses in his studio work.
His series of drawings and online project Dibujos a ciegas (dibujosaciegas.tk) has been exhibited in Madrid and New York, and will travel to Vancouver and San Francisco in 2008. It’s listed at rhizome.org.
His video “Todo disfraz está hecho de recuerdos” was screened at the ATA Film & Video Festival in San Francisco in October 2007. That same year three video pieces made together with dancer and choreographer Camille Hanson were screened in the Pradillo Theatre in Madrid.
Involved since 2002 in the online international projects “ArtContext” and “WarTime, reflections on and reactions against wars by digital and network artists”. He is part of the video community and on-line television Houyhnhnms.tv.
In 2002 co-founded Manklared Arts Collective: Arts Against War & Madrid Independent! Artists Porfolios. The group functions as a meeting point and hosts online exhibitions.