Javier Orfón
Caguas, PR, 1989
Biography Details
Sculptor, Illustrator, and Experimental Printmaker. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in the Fine Arts Department of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. In the same year, he made his first individual exposition in ÁREA: Lugar de proyectos titled Seres y Espacios. He has participated in collective exhibitions like La Muestra Nacional de Arte of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (2015 y 2018) y Confluencias at La Sala de Exhibiciones del Plata, organized by Fits Art Foundation (2017). His second individual show Litoral was exhibited in La Embajada (2019) and the third exhibition El Ojo de Arcilla en Hidrante (2020). In September of 2019 until the middle of April 2020 he participated in La Prática de Beta-Local. He worked as coordinator at ÁREA: Lugar de proyectos (2015-2019). Currently, he is the manager of the José Hernández Castrodad e Iris Marcano Art Collection. His work during these times is related to the experimentation of the ancestral Antillean pottery and the study of specific places in Puerto Rico.
Artist Statement
My work is mainly related to the concept of topophilia that is linked to aesthetic experiences and the knowledge that one acquires in a specific space. The experience and connection with the place is the guide to investigate in a multidisciplinary way the ecological, geographical and anthropological aspects, architecture and oral histories. I explore the human condition, nature, the impact of the Anthropocene, memory, otherness, landscape, and globalization.
Through various references and materials I create a timeless archeology of the studied area. I use various media such as drawing on paper, on stones or coral fragments, monotypes of photographic transfers on canvas, and sculpture using ancient Antillean pottery techniques.
Javier Orfón, 2020
Formation
Education
2013
- Bachelor in Sculpture, Drawing and Experimental Printmaking. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Professional Experience
2020
- Manager. José Hernández Castrodad Art Collection, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2015
- Coordinator. ÁREA: Lugar de Proyectos, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2020
- El Ojo de Arcilla, Hidrante, Santurce, Puerto Rico
2019
- Pozuelo, La Embajada, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
2013
- Seres y Espacios, ÁREA: Lugar de Proyectos, Caguas, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2018
- Muestra Nacional de Arte, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- About Clay, Souvenir 154, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Los ojos cuadrados de Atabeyra, Aguirre, Mexico City, Mexico
- Línea dura, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico; Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Cupey Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Museo de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus, Cayey, Puerto Rico
2017
- Entredichos, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, Santurce, Puerto Rico
- Confluencias, Fits Arts Foundation, Sala de Exhibiciones del Plata, Dorado, Puerto Rico
2015
- Muestra Nacional de Arte, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Formas de volver, Matadero Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Misión colectiva, ÁREA: Lugar de Proyectos, Caguas, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2019
- Residency. Beta-Local, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2017
- Residency. Arte Fits Foundation, Dorado, Puerto Rico
Collections
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Historia, Antropología y Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo Casa del Libro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Casa Cortés, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Books
Ramos Rubén, Sabrina. “Charco Hondo”. Carolina, Puerto Rico: Ediciones Ayalubia, 2018
Web
Aponte Alsina, Marta. “Escribir en las paredes” Angélica furiosa.7 de febrero de 2019. http://angelicafuriosa.blogspot.com/2019/02/escribir-en-las-paredes.html?m=1
“JAVIER ORFÓN: EL OJO DE ARCILLA” Artishock.29 de julio de 2020. https://artishockrevista.com/2020/07/29/javier-orfon-el-ojo-de-arcilla/
Kennedy, Alicia. “On going” From the desk of Alicia Kennedy. August 31st, 2020. https://aliciakennedy.substack.com/p/on-wanderlust?fbclid=IwAR3hptoBEkDNguWK8PNHOAS1qf0ijA8xgrTPlvGoJH-VKlhtMv4i4TNkd34
Medina, Alejandro. “Javier Orfón presenta ‘El ojo de arcilla’ en Hidrante, Puerto Rico”. Blog: Terremoto: Contemporary Art in the Americas (México). 29 de julio de 2020. https://terremoto.mx/el-ojo-de-arcilla/
Ortiz Burgos, Carlos. “A través del ojo de la arcilla” Visión Doble. 2 de septiembre de 2020. http://humanidades.uprrp.edu/visiondoble/?p=2419&fbclid=IwAR1aOUAqgRonQ6zo2Q_KBlGKRKe3JiNwRhyPy58KXJpqbNFooZ2nO_hF2Hw