Description
About the Artist :
Born in Lisbon, in 1966, Monica Machado has lived and worked in Paris since 1981, where she graduated in Fine Arts at the Ecole National des Beaux Arts, in 1992. Starting from the gathering of objects made of cloth and ceramic pieces, in mosaic or glass, Monica Machado deconstructs the materials and explores them in layers and collages, alluding to themes such as nature, religion and everyday lite. Some pieces include lighting which, combined with the bright colour and the glow of the materials, reinforces the idea that Monica Machado’s work comprehends a fantastical dimension.
About the Artwork :
Monica Machado explores here the boundaries of mosaic art. The rope transforms into a vine made of twisted ceramic fragments assembled together. The tones are black, brown, and beige. The artist reclaims everyday objects, turning each one into a work of art in her own distinctive way.
The clothesline is merely a delightful pretext allowing the artist to hang: a dish towel, a pillow, men’s underwear, a sock, a bra, and a pair of panties. So many elements of mosaic and imagination laid out before us as an offering to our curiosity.
The first element appears as a traditional kitchen towel, patterned in red and white checks. The silhouette of a plate immediately emerges upon it. A miniature picnic transforms the towel into a tablecloth. In this way, the artist plays with the various meanings a single object may hold.
A small pillow is also hanging out to dry. We enter the world of a child’s bedroom, encountering a rocket ship, a fairy, and Captain Haddock. A teddy bear recalls the importance of comfort toys in a child’s sleep. An image from the adventures of Peter Pan symbolizes nocturnal escape. The moon smiles gently, ready to watch over the sleeping child. But the “alarm clock,” a truly evil instrument, brings these sweet dreams to an end.
Classic in style, with blue and white stripes, a pair of men’s underwear plunges us into another universe. The viewer becomes the indiscreet observer of what unfolds within this intimate garment. A series of wordplays related to the brand “DIM” (specialized in underwear) are hidden along the waistband. This is the first time the artist incorporates such puns into her works. They all begin with the letters “d” and “i”: “dis-moi” (“tell me”), “dimension,” “disappear,” “Sunday,” “dimille.” The addition of a Super Smurf figurine on the waistband humorously recalls the presence of “underpants” in the costumes of many superheroes.
The sock that follows conceals a secret garden, in the most literal sense of the phrase. One must rise up and peer through the glass in order to contemplate it. Monica Machado plays here with nature and with green, the color most commonly associated with it.
Then comes a bra. The lace of its undulating contours is simulated through ceramic elements. The flesh-colored tones play with the relationship between container and content. The artist uses glass to further accentuate transparency. A flower serves as the left nipple, while a baby suckles at the right breast.
Fine lingerie continues with this pink lace panty, covered in a glass mosaic and crowned with a floral waistband. Inside, two small figurines discover one another beneath the benevolent gaze of Saint Thérèse. They lend an erotic tone to an object already charged with sensuality in the collective imagination. All of this is enhanced by the presence of a highly symbolic apple.
A corset continues to captivate the eye, leading onward toward a highly feminine boot one would dearly love to wear, resting “upon a glass foot.”
Biography :
1966, Born in Lisbon, Portugal.
Lives in Paris since 1981.
Degree in Fine arts by the National School of Fine Arts in Paris (1992), (Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts).
Solo Shows :
2026 Gabrielle Laroche Gallery, Paris
2022 Berthet Aittouares Gallery, « Le Monde fantastique de Monica Machado »
Paris, (06.10 – 29.10)
2013 Oliva Creative Factory Foundation, Portugal
2012 Gabrielle Laroche Gallery (23.09 – 23.10)
2011 – M like Mosaïc, in Paray le Monial
– Boites Noires correspondances, Café Flore Paris
2008 – Michel Soskine Gallery, Madrid
– Art Elysées, Berthet- Aittouares Gallery
1994 Callu Mérite Gallery, Paris (14.06 – 23.07)
Group Shows
2024 La Halle Saint Pierre, « Esprit Singulier » Expo coll, Paris (12.04 – 14.08)
2009 Art Brussels
2008 “5 Portuguese Artists” Enero- Marzo. Michel Soskine Inc. Madrid.
2006 « Kaléidoscopique » Villa Dutoit, Switzerland.
2002/05 Creation of sculptures for the “La cuisine aménagée” project. One of theese sculptures: ” La croix du Christ”.
2001 Galouste Gubenkian Cultural center, « Le Corps », Expo coll, 51 Avenue de Iena, 75016 ( 27.11. – 21.12. 2001)
2000 “Art Paris”. Carrousel du Louvre. Paris, France.
1999 Leonardo Gallery, Paris.
1998 – “III Biennal de Arte AIP”. Porto, Portugal.
– “L’art du temps dans les jardins de la ville”. François Mitterand Park, Evreux.
– Galerie Leonardo, Paris
1997 – Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– « Creation under Threat » Sud Gallery. Bagneux, France.
– « Iglesia del Monasterio Ntra Sra de prado » , Espagne.
– « Encontro Artistico- Cultural ». Fundacâo da juventude, Porto, Portugal.
– « Biennal da MAIA Arte jovem 97 “. Porto, Portugal and Valladolid, Spain.
1996 – “II Biennal de Arte AIP”. Porto, Portugal.
– Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– ” Sculpture interactive”. La Rochelle, France.
– “Courant d’art”. Deauville, France.
– Young Painting salon. Quai Branly. Paris, France.
1995 – « Portugal in Montrouge”. Montrouge, France.
– Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– Contemporary art salon. Bagneux, France.
1994 – Salon d’Art Contemporain de Bagneux
– Salon de Mars, Galerie Callu Mérite, Paris: participe avec une pièce importante
(“Armor”). (Reportage sur Antenne 2 au journal de 20h).
– Art Jonction Cannes, Galerie Callu Mérite, Paris.
– Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
1993 – Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– “Young European artists”. Castellon, Spain.
– Salon de Montrouge. France.
– Salon des Félicités. Quai Malaquais. Paris, France.
1990 Galerie des Beaux-arts, Paris.
Cultural Activity :
2006/07 Workshop Children and Parents, “Parents-Enfants” association “Traces”. La Forge, France.
Grants, Awards :
1997 “Bordalo Pinheiro” Award, Portugal.
1995 – Artwork “Amor” bought by F.R.A.C. Ile-de-France.
-Help in the creation of “Le Landau”. Fine Art Department.
1994 Help in the first exhibition, Ministry of Culture, France.
1993 – 3rd Award at the Salon of Montrouge, France.
– Sculpture Award. “Salon des Félicités” of National School of Fine Arts. Paris, France.