CHRIST TOSANZ

www.christtosanz.com

Christto Sanz, Puerto Rican is a conceptual artist based in Doha, exploring issues such as the mind and its states of development or the pursuit of beauty in the ordinary.

The portrait is part of his methodology, triggers social and existential signs, signs and questions ranging from personal to global issues. Research on semiotics and signs of photography led him to complete his studies in Europe and the United States, circulating cities like New York and Barcelona.

In 2011 he moved to the Middle East to the city of Doha where he tries to find links and similarities between Caribbean culture and Arab culture.

ARTIST STATEMENTA few years ago, looking at some photography books I came across the stunning pictures of Rineke Dikjstra, which completely captured my attention. From there I started to research about her work, here references and inspirations.

It was then when I saw the work of Diane Arbus and August Sanders; immortal portraits that persist in the history of anthropology photography. My interest for these photographers encouraged me to focus my bachelor thesis on the gesture and what the pictured on the photograph tells, using as referral the geniuses of photography, which explore the identity in their photographers.My interest in photography continued growing more than anything the portraits and their indelible mark that lasts; as Roland Barthes mentions in one of his popular books. That’s when I decided to travel to Barcelona Spain to pursue a master in Photography.

I started developing pictures based on the search for individual identity and the psychic portrait. I worked in the idea of identity in 2007 with the video “Identity”.In 2008 I decided to make 300 portraits of strangers that I encountered on the streets. As a result from this pictures was the creation of “ Do you know me?”, which consisted of 14 portraits selected from the 300 pictures taken.

In 2009 I continued with this idea but from a personal perspective. I started working with my own identity and the things that define me. At that time I was then working on the series “ Happy Country” in Barcelona Spain. This collection of pictures aimed to reflect a duality between the subject and its addiction, and its way to create its own happy country. In some ways the picture that talked only about identity in the past began to turn in a photography that not only deal with the identity but at the same time with personal aspects.These personal aspects included dreams, mental states, the subconscious and the surreal. Following this in 2010 I started working on the series “ Lost in the forest of my mind”, “ Brainwashing” and “ TOC TOC who’s there”. The focus of these series is the obsessive-compulsive disorder.

At the end of 2010 I finished my project “ The chapters of my skin”. This project collected all identity representations and processes of mental states, and also featured memories and the memory. A metaphor to shed skin like snake in a surreal way, which was complemented by an installation of latex mask and clothes.This project has inspired me to manipulate and drive these ideas a bold way trying to create unique images. My photography is defined by the search for new interpretations and new experiences and circumstances. Images are needed in a time of my life.

Similarly trying to make the ordinary, something beautiful that can be reinterpreted from what it had already been defined, providing it with a new identity. I also try to find images or existing concerns in my head and give them a shape, or recreate them in a phonograph as a way to assimilate my surroundings, my doubts and concerts through the self portrait.

“Beautiful descomposition”,Lost in the forest of my mind serie’s , photography print on paper, 2009.

His art is provocative and irreverent; it aims to capture the viewer’s gaze through sim-ple images that are beatiful in their poses and compositions. His work challenges the idea of individual identity and its construction; of subjects represented by inmediate circumstances that become visible in the rhetoricof their inventions, that is obvious in his portraits. For him the portraitis the footprint of photographs that trace their mes-sage of its image and perception interpretation, evaluation of two eyes or two systems within the message, wich are explained according to their circumstances. On the other hand items such as the mask and costume are in their work as part of hisspeech on social mask and question that arise in trying to discover the intention of what is portrayed.

CHRISTTO SANZ

“Identity” video, 2007

“Untitled”, photography print on paper, 2011.

Still of “Identity” video, 2007

“The battle of the voices”,Obsession serie’s , photography print on paper, 2009.“Untitled”, photography print on paper, 2011.

Still of “Identity” video, 2007

“Obssesion”, photography print on paper, 2011.

“Obssesion”, photography print on paper, 2011.

“The Fall”,Lost in the forest of my mind serie’s, photography print on paper, 2009

“Volar”,Lost in the forest of my mind serie’s, photography print on paper, 2009

TOC TOC WHO’S THERE?

Introduction: This project is based on the obsessive habits of the mind Obsessive compulsive Disorder also known as OCD is a disorder in the group of anxiety disorders affectiing over 100 million people in the world.

Summary report of the project: This project proposes a self-portrait mirror and anxious mood, experienced by people suffering from this anxiety disorder. With complete calm and an almost frontal portrait projecting to myself.

This project makes the investigation of this disorder, causes, conditions and how it might influence the artist’s artistic process. In principle by way of research aims to present two early self-portraits that have been part of the investigation to. This piece con-sists of the two photographs entitled “happy country” and “TOC TOCwho’s there?...

objectives:

The detailed analysis of obsessive disorders. Demonstrate the states of conflict experienced by the obsession.

Titled: “TOC TOC, who’s there?”

Concept Development : A self-portrait on paper, to build on origami. With the idea of how your thoughts and mental states are constructed, your world, your country, your self-portrait.

THE DOCTOR HAS SAID THAT PERHAP MY DISORDER IS BECAUSEI’M AN ARTIST.

“Happy Country”, TOC TOC how’s there serie’s photography print on paper, 2009

Installation of “Happy country” at Elisava, Barcelona 2010.

BRAINWASHING

Still of Brainwashing video 2010

Still of Brainwashing video 2010

THE CHAPTER OF MY SKIN

“Untitled”,The Chapter of my skin serie’s photography print on paper, 2011.

It is a series of photographs that explores states of mind, as to build or demolish the subject. As a self-portrait of a fable cleverly intend to present experiences and reflections turned into surreal images that range from ten-der to brutal, as the monster who sleeps in a fictional story, about to awaken. The series includes photographs such as: “The Dinner”, a photographic piece, where I try to represent the dialogues or monologues that are generated in my imagination, between different minds, the conscious or analytical mind, mind decoding, impulsive mind, the unconscious mind and the somatic which represent the various states of my being. All my minds have planned a dinner to devour the main course at the dinner table, my brain will be the symbol of matter existing in the body, power of construction or destruction of being human .

It is at the table where they generate all kinds of dialogues, arguments and positions on the state of consciousness, “I think” therefore “I am”. Moreover, the latex dress is meant to symbolize a naked body fictionalized real-clothed body, referring to a costume and creating a scenario of contradiction, illogical as life itself. I am interested in presenting the body as beautiful, mostly deep inside the intestines represented in neat organic forms.

“The operation” presents the act of extraction, injure or remove of all minds that have used the original costume at that dinner where they debated existential ideas and creative processes, culminating in the ascent of the body as a symbol of enlightenment or some pure idea. (The information is in the air).

THE CHAPTER OF MY SKIN

“Untitled”, The Chapters of my skin serie’s , photography print on paper, 2011

THE CHAPTER OF MY SKINEs una serie de fotografías que explora los estados de la mente, su medida de formar o demoler al sujeto. A manera de autorretrato con ingenio de una fabula pretendo presentar vivencias o reflexiones transformadas en imágenes surreales que van de lo tierno a lo bestial; como el monstruo que duerme en un cuento de ficción , apunto de despertar. La serie incluye fotografías como:

“The Dinner”, una pieza fotográfica, donde trato de representar los diálogos o monólogos que se generan en mi imaginación; entre las diferentes mentes, la mente analítica o la consciente, la mente decodificadora, la mente impulsiva, la mente inconsciente y la somática que represento en los diferentes yo que aparecen en esta fotografía . Todas mis mentes han planeado una cena para devorar el plato principal en una misma mesa, que será mi cerebro símbolo de la materia existente del cuerpo, poder de construcción o destrucción del ser humano.Es en la mesa donde se generan todo tipo de discursos, discusiones y posturas acerca del sujeto y su consciencia; Pienso luego existo.

Por otra parte el vestido de látex pretende simbolizar un cuerpo desnudo ficticio sobre un cuerpo vestido real, aludiendo al disfraz y creando un juego de oposiciones o contradicción ilógicas como la vida misma. Por otra parte inte-resa presento lo bello el cuerpo, más que nada su interior en la profundidad sus intestinos representados en formas orgánicas pulcras. “The operation” pre-senta el acto de extracción, herir o sacar todas las mentes que han consumido a la original en aquella cena de disfraces donde se debatían ideas existenciales y procesos de creación, culminando con el acenso del cuerpo como símbolo de iluminación o de alguna idea pura.( The information is in the air).

“Untitled”, The Chapters of my skin serie’s , photography print on paper, 2011

“Untitled”, The Chapters of my skin serie’s , photography print on paper, 2011

“The dinner”,The Chapter of my skin serie’s photography print on paper, 2011.

“The information is on the air”, The Chapters of my skin serie’s , photography print on paper, 2011.

“Guts out “,The Chapter of my skin serie’s photography print on paper, 2011.

“The operation” The Chapter of my skin serie’s, photography print on paper, 2011.

The virus of the mind, The Chapter of my skin serie’s, photography print on paper, 2011.

“ Transition” The Chapter of my skin serie’s, photography print on paper, 2011.

Detail of “Transition” 2011.

“ Untitled” The Chapter of my skin serie’s, photography print on paper, 2011.

“Mudar la piel” The chapters of my skin serie’s, photography print on paper, 2010.

Installation of Chapters of my Sking at the Museum of Caguas, Puerto Rico 2011.

Installation of Chapters of my Sking at the Museum of Caguas, Puerto Rico 2011.

“Untitled” The chapters of my skin serie’s, photography print on paper, 2010.

“Makeup for a happy society”, The Chapters of my skin serie’s photography print on paper, 2010.

“Untitled” The chapters of my skin serie’s, photography print on paper, 2010.

UNPARALLELED OBJECTIVE

Introduction

This project explores Middle Eastern current state culture and identifies aspects of how culture is affected by the postmodern condition.

Artist’s background

Christto Sanz is a Puerto Rican born emerging artist that primarily works with pho- tography as a medium. He uses strong imagery to convey strong personal and philo- sophical messages about modern day life and the post-modernist condition of the 21st century.

Andrew Jay Weir, South African born contemporary artist that likes to explore mod- ern day theories that surround modern day society and interpret his ideas with the use of mixed media.

Objectives

Explore an extended “cultural” identity. Examine subject out of their usual context. Make evident the transaction of one culture with another. Demonstrate the multicultural complex “makeup” of Qatar and/or middle east. Present a representation of universal elements that define a post-modern society. Promote emerging contemporary art in the local community

Concept Development

The development of Unparalleled Objetives came through the understanding and analysis of local culture and fabric of Qatar and/or the Middle East. The fabric is sur- rounded by the makeup of many other cultures that are present. Qatar is changing and is developing in many aspects and it is with these aspects that we came to the conclusion of a cultural transaction. A common misconception in modern day thought is that there is a loss of identity by the understanding of another one of the elements expressed in the series of photographs. The series aims to address everyday mis- conceptions of Arab and Middle Eastern culture.

Project Report: Information/ bibliography

“The postmodern condition”, Jean Francois (1984)

“Deconstruction: Theory and practice”, Norris Christopher, New York: Routledge.

“The Order of Things” Michel Foucault.

“ La condición política postmoderna”

“ Un mundo sin fronteras”

Era without Era:Era without era: is presented as an Arab woman repeatedly looking to the future with great expectations. Her head held high and her hair disordened shows the move-ment of the wind.She remains still while holding a Coca-Cola which represents and questions the idea of producing a universal sign or symbol, which transcends its usual context to a global or extended one; reformulating the historical linearity of modernism which is transformed into a continuous circle.All cultures or eras con-verge at the same time in space. As in the society of the spectacle.This woman is the idea of unity and reproduction of a universal symbol.

Inflating the camel:Metaphor of the current situation in modern Arab countries, which are generally character-ized by economic growth and development. Inflation of a plastic camel speaks of a culture in economic growth and production that leads to a simulated reality. With the use of a cyan sky with references to pop and the mass production the warm colors shows a subject with an ambiguous or extended identity or elements of a culture that becomes your own. The main objective being to display the eagerness of making the impossible possible.

Unparalleled Objective:Symbols and element, which represent a globalized culture. A man with various ideas of his own personality opens up a travel case to find what he has brought with him to a foreign land. Objects out of their usual context. The key emphasis lies within the cultural exchange of the postmodern era where not one truth exists but a complex, diverse, array of possibilities.

Long Distance:Presents a moment of suspense in which is the expectation, an anticipation of the future and what is likely to happen. An Arab woman next to a pay phone, a metaphor of the presence, absence, instant messaging, telecommunications where long distances are now short and geographies boundaries disappear, it resembles the manifestation of the poetic side of Technology and new media.

Caribbean Express:

Represents the symbol of the hermit or visitor who comes from afar to work in distant lands. Caribbean Express is the shortcut between the Caribbean and the Middle East, a combina-tion of experiences and cultures that share the same sky blue cyan. It reflects a global world without geographical limits. It is the presence of a subject placed in a non-routine context of migration. In this way the artist uses the character to embody the country’s working class that comes with the intention to find a better future transcending the limits of identity, making whats foreign a part of themselves.

MISCONCEPTION:Misconcepted? An Arabic lady with a number of hidden truths. A contradictory outfit repre-sents a common dilemma in western ideology of the Middle East and more so of Arabic art. Misconception addresses the idea that we as humans are all equal, evoke the same emotions and have the same expectations from life despite cultural differences. The image includes elements which bring forth Guy Debords idea of a society of the spectacle and how it has afected the post modern era in the middle east.

“Postmodernisims” Neon light ,Unparalleled Objective serie’s, 2012

“Postmodernisims” Neon light ,Unparalleled Objective serie’s, 2012

CHRISTTO SANZ

EXHIBITIONS2012- “ Malasartes” Centro Cultural de España, San Salvador, El Salvador2012- “ Unparalleled Objectives” Curated by Mayssa Fattouh, Katara Art Center, Doha Qatar.2011-”Vividos”, Curated by Elsa Meléndez, Museo de Caguas, Puerto Rico.2010- “5to Aniversario de Area Lugar de proyectos”, Curated by Norma Vila, Area, Puerto Rico.2010- “Mix/ Combinació”, Untitled Gallery, Barcelona Spain.2010- “ Al límite de la sobre exposición”, Elisava, Barcelona Spain.2009- “ Tendencias” Curated by Norma Vila, Museo de Caguas, Puerto Rico.2008- “ BFA showcase, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico.2007- “ Imagen y diseño exhibición departamental, Escuela de Artes Plásticas Sanjuan, Puerto Rico.

PUBLICATIONS

2012- Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico.2012- Dawire The Online Platform for Contemporary Art, Puerto Rico.2011- Mattemag Magazine, Puerto Rico.2009- Introspective Issue, Ninja magazine, Paris.2009- Artefacto2, Puerto Rico.2009- Dawire The Online Platform for contemporary Art, Puerto Rico.

EDUCATION

Escola Superior de Disseny i Enginyeria de Barcelona Master Degree in Visual comunication, 2010

Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto RicoBachelor Degree in Fine Art, 2008

BiO

1985. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lives and works in Doha Qatar.