BIO
Nelson Hernández C. (Punta Arenas, Chile) is a visual artist living and working in Chile. He graduated in Art from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. After working as a professional designer and gaining extensive experience in Digital Production and Postproduction, he returned to full-time painting practice. With solo shows such as “Las cosas simples” (2017) and “Algunas Cosas” (2017). He also took part in Art Miami (2022) and Pinta PArC (2023) fairs. In 2018, Nelson won first place in the Galería Artespacio Joven BBVA Contest and was a finalist in the MAVI/MINERA ESCONDIDA AWARD in the 2015 and 2017 editions. His work is included in the Ca.Sa. Collection and is represented in Chile by the Factoría Santa Rosa Gallery. His artistic references come from both popular culture and art history, working primarily with painting to challenge the familiar and reflect on the contemporary world. His meticulous painting, employing a vibrant and contemporary palette alongside traditional mediums, creates a dialogue with the viewer, inviting them to see familiar images through a new lens.
STATEMENT
My artwork is a blend of references and appropriations derived from both popular culture and art history, frequently recontextualizing iconic images through painting. My pieces are an amalgamation of digital and traditional media, enriched with elements of irony and humor, aimed at transforming the original meaning of the adapted image and playfully challenging what is familiar.
In this dialogue, I harness historically significant images and blend them with elements discovered serendipitously. This process affords me a platform to reflect upon contemporary events, globalization, and nostalgia. Each artwork emerges as a commentary, not only on the original image but also offering insights into our present day.
The way I approach my images, the relationship between my vision and the medium, is fundamental to my practice. Painting -inherently tied to art history- facilitates a bridge to the past whilst enabling me to navigate the present, as I employ a process of digital reconstruction in 3d software, that serves as blueprints for my paintings. This deliberate juxtaposition —the old and the new, the revered and the popular— is essential to me.
I aim to engage the viewer in a conversation, inviting them to view familiar images through a new lens, enhanced by humor and irony. In this context, the artwork serves to encapsulate and highlight the zeitgeist of our times.
RESIDENCIES
- 2024
- GlogauAIR. Residency Program Berlin, Germany
EXHIBITIONS
- 2023
- Pinta PArC. Contemporary Art Fair with Factoría Santa Rosa, Lima, Peru.
- 2022
- Art Miami. Contemporary Art Fair with Factoría Santa Rosa, Miami, USA.
- 2022
- Nuevas Generaciones. Group Exhibition, CV Gallery, Santiago, Chile.
- 2022
- PLAYGROUND. Group Exhibition, Factoría Santa Rosa Gallery, Santiago,
Chile. - 2022
- B&N / Oscuro y Germinal. Group Exhibition, Factoría Santa Rosa
Gallery, Santiago, Chile. - 2021
- CHILARTe. Exposición colectiva, Distrito de lujo Parque Arauco, Santiago, Chile.
- 2021
- FAXXI 2021. Exposición colectiva, Feria de Arte online, Santiago, Chile.
- 2021
- Tiempos fragmentados. Exposición colectiva, Galería Artespacio, Santiago, Chile.
- 2020
- ArtStgo. Contemporary Art Fair, Online. Santiago, Chile.
- 2018
- Ch.ACO.Contemporary Art Fair, Arboleda Lo Curro, Santiago, Chile.
- 2018
- Casa FOA Chile. Interior design and landscaping exhibition, Casona
Montecarmelo, Santiago, Chile. - 2018
- ArtStgo. Contemporary Art Fair, GAM, Santiago, Chile.
- 2018
- Galería Artespacio Joven BBVA, Artespacio Gallery, Santiago, Chile.
- 2017
- Las cosas simples. Solo Exhibition in “Tierra del Fuego” Room, Dreams
Casino, Punta Arenas. - 2017
- XII PREMIO MAVI/MINERA ESCONDIDA: ARTE JOVEN CONTEMP. MAVI. Santiago, Chile.
- 2017
- Feria La Porfía. Feria de Arte y Diseño de Magallanes. Punta Arenas, Chile.
- 2017
- ArtStgo. Contemporary Art Fair, GAM, Santiago, Chile.
- 2017
- algunas cosas. Solo Exhibition, Casa en Blanco. Santiago, Chile.
- 2016
- El sol brilla para todos. Solo Exhibition, La Galería. Punta Arenas, Chile.
- 2016
- Feria BazartUC. Centro de Extensión UC. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- 2015
- IX PREMIO MAVI/MINERA ESCONDIDA: ARTE JOVEN CONTEMP. MAVI. Santiago, Chile.
- 2015
- Concurso Arte Joven. Artespacio Gallery, Santiago, Chile.
PUBLICATIONS
- 2021
- 30x30x30. Hernández Nelson (2021). Self-published, Santiago.
- 2016
- 50 Buenos días. Hernández Nelson (2016). Santiago: EUONIA.
AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS
- 2021
- The artwork An Implacable Enemy becomes the official image of the campaign of elected convention member Giovanna Grandon, also known as Tía Pikachu.
- 2020
- Cover and participation in the special edition of Pléyade magazine, humanities and social sciences magazine, edition commemorating 1 year since the start of the social outbreak.
- 2018
- 1st place Artespacio Joven BBVA Gallery competition, Artespacio Gallery, Santiago, Chile.