Ryan Mendoza : welcome to America / [text, Giuseppina Napoli, Laura Cavallaro, Adriano Pricoco].

Venlo : VanSpijk/Rekafa Publishers, 2016.

48 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm.

Parallel texts in English and Italian.

A young artist that recalls Goya, that studies the old Dutch masters or Picasso's paintings, who always has the entirety of the history of painting in his gaze, seemingly the survivor of a forgotten, ancient war." With these words, Milan Kundera recounts his Mendoza, that young American artist who left America to grow up in Europe some time ago. Yet today, Mendoza appears even younger than ever, despite his obsessions, his young girls, his photographs, and the memory of the stars and stripes flag. His painting arrives more directly than ever, maintaining intact that clean action and American rigor that still betrays good manners. The soft colors do not suffice to sweeten this reality, as neither do the tender calls to childhood of his cartoon characters, or the mirrors and the seductive sofas. Ryan is American and the districts of Naples, the craftsmen's workshops, the historic buildings, and the alleyways of Paris or the apartment blocks of Berlin have been the frames for his work, they tell the story of a long journey because the Mother home is always her, America. Mother and stepmother, hated enemy only to be loved once more, rejected then forgiven, ignored and accused and then found once more on the streets of Detroit or the suburbs of New York. It is the America of one's flesh, of affection, it is the America of freshly cut green lawns and white dogs which has emerged over the years on these canvases of such refined beauty and absolute technique. 0.

English; Italian

August 26, 2016