Abdul Vas
Encyclopedia
Abdul Vas is a contemporary artist known for his highly expressive depictions of rooster
s. After studies in Venezuela
and the Netherlands
he lives and works in Amsterdam
and Madrid
.
and James Ensor
, Vas's work heavily consists of depictions of rooster
s that represent the masculine element of the American cowboy-culture. Therefore his pictures are full of references to the National Rifle Association
, the American baseball team Cincinnati Reds
or SUVs. Another common theme in his work is the Australian rock group AC/DC
, particularly lead singer Brian Johnson
. Many of his other artworks are named after AC/DC songs or albums.
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
s. After studies in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
he lives and works in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.
Work
Abdul Vas work broaches heavily the obsessions of his home country Venezuela with the symbols of the American dream. Heavily influenced by Marc ChagallMarc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
and James Ensor
James Ensor
James Sidney Edouard, Baron Ensor was a Flemish-Belgian painter and printmaker, an important influence on expressionism and surrealism who lived in Ostend for almost his entire life...
, Vas's work heavily consists of depictions of rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
s that represent the masculine element of the American cowboy-culture. Therefore his pictures are full of references to the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, the American baseball team Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
or SUVs. Another common theme in his work is the Australian rock group AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, particularly lead singer Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
. Many of his other artworks are named after AC/DC songs or albums.
Solo Shows
- 2010 “MAXIMUM OVERDRIDE” CASADO SANTAPAU GALLERY, MADRID, SPAIN. Text by Edu Hurtado
- 2008 ANAL GAPE POSTER FREE, PARAMARIBO, SURINAME, Curated by Maia Loester
- 2008 SPECIFICOS, 4SPACE, ZARAGOZA, SPAIN, Curated by Javier Duero
- 2008 BARRY TIMES, STREET GEORGETOWN COMMONWEALTH, GEORGETOWN, GUYANA, Curated by Fred Parnna
- 2007 MISSING SINCE 1983, T20 GALLERY, MURCIA, SPAIN, Text by José Luis Pérez Pont
- 2007 BLEMISH, LUIS ADELANTADO MIAMI GALLERY. MIAMI, FL USA
- 2000 HANEN EN LANGE WOORDEN, INSTALLATION, ART INDUSTRY GALLERY, AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
Group Shows
- 2010 THE WASTE LAND, AT WHITE BOX, NEW YORK, NY USA, Curated by Rául Zamudio
- 2010 UNCUTCOCK, PRETEEN GALLERY, HERMOSILLO, MEXICO, Curated by REST IN PEACE FARRAH FAWCETT (RIPFF)
- 2010 THAT OBSCURE OBJECT OF DESIRE. PRISTINE GALLERY, MONTERREY, MEXICO, Curated by Rául Zamudio
- 2010 QUEENS MOVE, JUVENAL REIS STUDIOS, NEW YORK, NY USA, Curated by Rául Zamudio & Susie Lim
- 2010 TWILIGHT OF THE IDOLS, CASADO SANTAPAU, GALLERY, MADRID, SPAIN, Curated by Rául Zamudio
- 2010 SPRING RAPE, PRETEEN GALLERY, HERMOSILLO, MEXICO, Curated by REST IN PEACE FARRAH FAWCETT (RIPFF)
- 2010 WUNDERKAMMER, T20 GALLERY, MURCIA, SPAIN, Curated by Carolina Parra
- 2010 “AMAZING GAPE” A PROJECT FOR ATLANTICA MAGAZINE, CAAM by Octavio Zaya. NY USA
- 2010 SPRING RAPE, PRETEEN GALLERY, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, Curated by REST IN PEACE FARRAH FAWCETT (RIPFF)
- 2010 (BASES) LUIS ADELANTADO GALLERY, VALENCIA, SPAIN
- 2009 RADIOGRAPHS, MYTHOMANIA & IDENTITY, CULTURAL CENTER OF ANCIENT INSTITUTE, GIJON, SPAIN, Curated by “ 2CLAVOS” Javier Duero & Alicia Jimenez
- 2009 THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, BEIJING 798 BIENNALE, CHINA, Curated by Rául Zamudio.
- 2009 BARRY TIMES, STREET GEORGETOWN COMMONWEALTH, GEORGETOWN, GUYANA, Curated by Fred Parnna
- 2008 RAREZAS DE ARTISTAS, NUEVO MONASTERIO DE SAN JUAN DE LA PEÑA, HUESCA, SPAIN, Curated by Manuel Pérez Lizano
- 2008 “FIRE YOUR GUNS, CUCARACHON PATTICCAS NAVISTAR 230” CORNER HUMOR, CAJA MADRID, SPAIN, Curated by Mario Campos
- 2007 MIXED, SURINAAMS MUSEUM, FORT ZEELANDIA, PARAMARIBO, SURINAME
- 2007 MERA COINCIDENCIA, JAVIER PEÑAFIEL ANFITRIÓN-PROXECTO EDICION, CGAC, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN
- 2007 LAS FISURAS DEL TIEMPO, CENTRO DE LAS ARTES DE SEVILLA, CAS, SEVILLA, SPAIN, Curated by Carolina Parra
- 2007 APORÍAS, COLEGIO DE ARQUITECTOS, CAJALON, ZARAGOZA, SPAIN, Curated by Pedro Lorente
- 2007 ZE PACIENCIA JAVIER PENAFIEL+ABDUL VAS, PROJECT, RUA DE ATALAIA 67, LISBOA, PORTUGAL
- 2007 KUNSTROUTE STEDELIJK MUSEUM DE LAKENHAL, LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS
- 2007 KIPPENLAND VAN STRAAT PALM PARK, PARAMARIBO, SURINAME
- 2007 COLLECTORS CISNEROS FONTANALS ART FOUNDATION-CIFO, MIAMI, FL USA
- 2007 AMERICAN ART, CISNEROS FONTANALS ART FOUNDATION-CIFO, MIAMI, FL USA
- 2007 CINCINNATI REDS LUIS ADELANTADO MIAMI, PROJECT "TTT" TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK, MIAMI, FL USA
- 2007 UNA NOCHE MARAVILLOSA, GARASH GALLERY, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- 2005 OBSERVATORI 05, THE SCIENCE MUSEUM PRINCIPE FELIPE, VALENCIA, SPAIN, Curated by Javier Duero
- 2003 ABDUL VAS & TOTO FRIMA, EXPANSIONIST ART EMPIRE GALLERY, LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS
- 2000 DARE TO MIX! ANTON CORBIJN, ROB SCHOLTE, HERMAN BROOD, ROB BIRZA, ABDUL VAS, GO GALLERY, AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS