ManuelaBenaim
Mixed-Media Fine Arts
My name is Manuela, I was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1996. I studied Fine Arts in Philadelphia, I currently live in Caracas, making art in my father's studio. I create art that blurs the line between the exterior world and my inner world, divided by my body.
By exposing my body and my intimate side, I allow the viewer to feel empathy, reflecting on one's own intimacy. I glorify the mundane, the subtle, and the discreet and bring light to a side of our daily life that often remains unseen. I use domestic objects as my canvas and the process of life-casting as my painting, to create three-dimensional domestic landscapes filled with anthropomorphic objects.
I use multiple techniques including woodworking, garment making, and upholstery to combine the body parts I make from more modern techniques such as life-casts, special effects makeup, and hair-punching. This combination of techniques are unique to a research I name anthropo-domesticity. The result is a juxtaposition between contrasting elements: tradition vs modernity, sensual vs grotesque, objects unnervingly familiar to us.
My art celebrates the essence that remains the same across the world, the universal links that connects us as a species. The viewers rely on their abilities to engage with a stranger's body, by using their intuition as a tool to interpret the hidden metaphors. Each piece unravels philosophical conversations about unspoken truths of being human; Our instincts, vulnerability, curiosity and the impermanence of our body.
Photo by Genesis Cabrera @Genesiscabrerav
Education
2019
BFA in Craft and Material Studies: The University of the Arts, PA.
2018
Alumni: Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, ME.
Exhibition
2020
STOCK, GBG Arts, group show
RETURNING, Frankfurt LAB, Germany.
2019
RETURNING, Vitlycke, Center for performing Arts, Sweden. Duo Collaboration with dancer Nitsan Margaliot.
2019
SURGE wearable art, Solmssen Court, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Show Of Hands, Solmssen Court, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Domestic Landscape, Craft Now Philadelphia, PA
2019
The Philadelphia Furniture Show, The 23rd Street Armory, PA
2019
Artificial Nature, The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Art Unleashed, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2019
BRICK BY BRICK, Off The Wall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Collaborative Natural Dye Project, Hamilton Hall, Philadelphia, PA
2018
The Philadelphia Furniture Show, The 23rd Street Armory, Philadelphia, PA
2018
Next Generation Crafts, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, PA
2017
Back to Nature, The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
2017
Chiaroscuro, Solmssen Court, Philadelphia, PA
2016
First Look, Gallery One. The University of the Arts, PA
2016
Summer show, Gallery One. The University of the Arts, PA
Residency Programs
2019-2020
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA.
Awards
2019
Outstanding Student Award, The University Of The Arts
2019
Rosalie Borowsky Belkin Award in Fiber.
2019
Outstanding Student Award, Surface Design Association.
2019
Florence Whistler Fish, Honorary mention.
2018
University of the Arts: Crafts and Material Studies Award
2017
William Daley Fellow Award, Haystack school of Crafts.
2017
Surface Design Association Membership Award.
2014
Reconocimiento al Talento de las Artes. Centro de Artes Integradas