Untitled II
João Cardoso
2023
Oil pastel drawing on 350 g/m2 textured paper, measuring 70 x 50 cm. Image size 63 x 43 cm.
The Creature looks through the window scared of the big drops coming through the sky.
Homodeus - a non plausible interpretation
The drawings from the series that we present in the exhibition “Homodeus - a non plausible interpretation” (Madrid, 7th to 15th March, 2024) are part of a pivotal set of formal experiments and development of João Cardoso's conceptual language towards more detailed visual universes.
The central body of identity of João Cardoso's work and concerns remains.
These works are quick records in a peculiar material that was little tamed by Cardoso and are therefore valuable for the suddenness of the energy of the moment and the clues thrown at the future. This set of drawings marks an evolutionary turning point, which has manifested itself in the development through direct transposition in some oil works and in all works produced to date, since this summer of 2023. There is a before and an after of Homodeus.
Pedro Carrasco
Madrid, March 2024
JOÃO CARDOSO artworks
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology, as a much needed tool to explore new means of life and solutions for the current world, also, it is responsible for extinguishing value from humans.
João believes that we are now on a big switch towards turning ourselves into mechanical figures and that actually only few of us will be valued only for our human condition. However, despite this fatalistic ideology, his work satirically predicts scenarios in a near future, and mixes it up with concepts of modern life where us humans are both the creators and bodies of study for robots to flourish.
With this in mind, questions such as “The matter of love? “, “Will we need a pet to sustain our need for affection?”, “Can low battery mean being close to death?” or “Which moral values will be transported to the digital realm?” are some of the many that end up being reflected in his work through a “pop mechanical figure” named “Creature”.
The main aim of João Cardoso work, besides exposing his personal concerns, is to raise awareness among humankind about our frail condition as humans but also to allow space in each persons mind to believe in the array of opportunities that technology can provide us.