Alejandro Monge  ⤬  丁丁藝術空間

Alejandro Monge  ⤬  TING TING ART SPACE

繞著雕塑作品「I.S.1,」兜一圈，我們會驚奇樸石的背面漸漸顯現一張精緻立體的臉孔，步伐帶動角度，臉孔也隨之轉動，想像與思考泛起觀者心中漣漪，如水紋圈般擴散而接連不斷。來自西班牙的藝術家Alejandro Monge將錯視技巧運用得巧妙，與其擅長的超現實主義的繪畫如出一轍，試圖欺騙觀者的眼睛，突破二維的限制，而現在他更專注於雕塑與裝置創作。

As we approach「I.S.1,」, we're taken aback to see the back of the raw stone slowly unmasking an exquisitely three-dimensional face. With every step we take, the angles shift, making the face appear to move in tandem. Such revelation evokes ripples of imagination and reflection in the observer, spreading unceasingly like the ripples on the surface of water. Hailing from Spain, artist Alejandro Monge masterfully employs optical illusion techniques, a skill that mirrors his prowess in surrealistic painting. He seeks to beguile the eyes of the beholder, pushing beyond the confines of a two-dimensional canvas. Now, his passion lies even more profoundly in the world of sculpture and installation.

「如果一個藝術家所思所感都融入了他的作品，對我來說，藝術就是 一種投射個人對世界看法的方式。」Monge的部分作品具有直觀的特 性，逼真的鈔票雕塑系列透過紙和丙烯顏料重現，大量堆疊後將其焚 燒，體現強烈的諷刺性，對於現實的批評不言而喻。焚燒的鈔票雕塑 甚至演變為鋪天蓋地的假新聞圖，儘管奇趣的後續發展並非本意，世界的荒誕卻賦予了作品更多的意義。

"If everything an artist thinks and feels dyes all his work, for me art is a way of projecting your personal way of seeing the world." says Monge. Some of Mon - ge's works possess an intuitive quality. His lifelike series of sculpted banknotes are recreated using paper and acrylic paint. They are meticulously stacked and then set ablaze, embodying a strong sense of satire that inherently critiques reality. The burned banknote sculptures have even transformed into a deluge of fake news images, and while the unintended whimsical progression occurred, the absurdity of the world has imparted greater significance to the artwork.

談到對藝術感興趣的源頭，Monge表示自己還是孩子的時候，父母便 觀察到他與尋常人的不同之處，大部分孩子在玩球時，他卻想用紙 箱製作雕塑。對藝術的興趣一直以來是自然而然的事，真正讓他下定 決心走上藝術創作的道路，是二十一歲那年在博物館裡看到自己的畫 作。時間拉回近期，西班牙的文化基金會Masaveu Foundation捎來好 消息，購置了兩座Monge最好的雕塑供馬德里的博物館收藏，他和家 人們看到創作與Goya, Sorolla, Velázquez, Jaume Plensa等藝術家們 橫跨世紀並列時，母親對他說：「兒子，你已經到達了那裡」，難以 言喻的感受繚繞心頭。

When discussing the origins of his interest in art, Monge reveals that his incli - nation began during his childhood. His parents noticed his distinctiveness from an early age; while most kids played with balls, he was crafting sculptures from cardboard boxes. His natural affinity for art persisted throughout his life. How - ever, the turning point that solidified his determination to embark on the path of artistic creation was when he saw his own artwork displayed in a museum at the age of 21. Fast forward to recent times, the Masaveu Cultural Foundation in Spain brought forth good news – they acquired two of Monge's finest sculp - tures for the collection of a museum in Madrid. As he and his family beheld his creations displayed alongside artists spanning centuries like Goya, Sorolla, Velázquez, and Jaume Plensa, his mother told him, "Son, you are already there," leaving him with an indescribable sensation that lingers in his heart.

雕塑是一件複雜的事，因此擁有無限的可能，Monge不讓自己侷限於單一材料，甚至親自發明材料，讓好奇心帶領著他去探索一切，「藝術家總是要冒險，將所有的熱情投入到他所做的事情中。」當下世界發生的形形色色都可能影響作品，他總是試圖描繪今日的社會，對於人類的超越性感興趣，目標是在作品中以一代人的角度觀看世界。

Sculpture is inherently complex, offering limitless possibilities. Monge doesn't constrain himself to conventional materials; he even innovates his own, driven by an unyielding curiosity to explore the unknown. "An artist always has to take risks and put all his passion into what he does," he asserts. Influenced by the diverse happenings of the contemporary world, he continually aims to capture the essence of today's society in his works. Intrigued by the transcendental nature of humanity, his ultimate goal is to reflect the world through the eyes of his generation in his art.

「Ｍonge的系列作品反應了現今社會下的許多狀態，我們認為藝術應該要符合時代發展來進行創作」，策展人丁春誠慧眼識得Monge投入身體與靈魂的一件件作品，團隊在三年前於西班牙巴賽隆納遇見Monge後便持續關注他的動向，直到今年雙方正式簽約開啟合作，一同拓展亞洲的藝術版圖。Monge的雕塑作品有著相當高的辨識度，符合當代藝術的美學思考，每一次的創作都是新的挑戰，並且一次比一次更不容易，同時Monge也認為這是每天早上進入工作室的動力來源，他讓自己保持清醒去尋找雕塑深處的一些東西，儘管永遠無法把握，是未知，如幻覺，但他的獨立與執著完美總是持續到展覽的前一刻。這樣的創作堅持與丁丁藝術空間的精神不謀而合，丁丁藝術空間屢屢於國際藝術活動、策展計畫上不斷創新，期望在亞洲的藝術環境中形成屬於自己的風格與樣貌。

"Monge's collection ref lects the various nuances of contemporary society. We hold the conviction that art should evolve in tandem with the unfolding eras," remarks curator Sphinx Ting. He astutely appreciates the depth of commitment and spirit manifested in each of Monge's pieces. The team's first encounter with Monge took place in Barcelona, Spain, three years prior, and they've been attentively tracking his artistic journey ever since. This year heralds the com - mencement of their official collaboration, with both parties set to pioneer new horizons in Asian art. Monge's sculptures boast a pronounced and identifiable aesthetic, mirroring the contemplative ethos of modern artistry. Every new piece represents a renewed challenge, seemingly growing more intricate with each endeavor. For Monge, these challenges serve as his daily motivation, drawing him to his studio with a thirst for discovery. He remains acutely aware, delving into the profound essence of his sculptures—something perpetually intangible, verging on the illusory. His unwavering dedication and resolve persist, right up until the exhibition's inaugural moments. This undeterred approach to artistic expression harmonizes seamlessly with the ethos upheld by TING TING ART SPACE, a platform that ceaselessly innovates amidst international art gatherings and curatorial endeavors, aspiring to establish a distinctive voice and visage in Asia's burgeoning art milieu.

Monge認為每個空間都有自己的語言，博物館給你自由， 藝廊給你更個人化的背景，藝博會對他而言則是純粹的情 感，即便壓力很大，而一切又是稍縱即逝，他仍然熱愛投 入於藝博會。與丁丁藝術空間合作首爾的KIAF 、2023台北 藝術博覽會，以及上海的West Bund，此三檔亞洲重要的 藝博會作為首次的亞洲巡迴展出。Monge表示過程中總是 能感受到丁丁藝術空間以及TIN TIN STUDIO策展事務所 團隊的活力，他們全力以赴推廣藝術，以及展現想要成為 藝術界重要的畫廊之一的衝勁。創作者往往需要很多靈感 來驅動創作，策展人丁春誠認為東西方的交流提供藝術家 新的思考模式，國際藝術博覽會將為Monge開啟自我探索 的另一段旅程。

Monge contends that every space speaks its own language. While museums grant an artist freedom, galleries offer a more personalized backdrop, and art fairs are all about pure emotion for him. Despite the immense pressure and the f leeting nature of it all, he remains deeply passionate about participating in art fairs. Collaborating with TING TING ART SPACE, he is making his debut Asian tour at three of the region's most significant art fairs: KIAF in Seoul, the ART TAIPEI 2023, and the WEST BUND in Shanghai. Monge expresses that throughout the process, he's consistently felt the vitality of TING TING ART SPACE and TIN TIN STUDIO curatorial team. They put forth their utmost efforts to promote art and display the drive to become one of the significant galleries in the art world. The impetus behind most creators is often a torrent of inspiration. Curator Sphinx Ting posits that the interplay between Eastern and Western cultures provides artists with fresh perspectives and paradigms. For Monge, these international art fairs herald yet another chapter in his ongoing voyage of self-discovery.

Gallery | TING TING ART SPACE

Sculpture Artist | Alejandro Monge