María Ugarte: The art of Natalia Conde

By María Ugarte

Dominican Republic Correspondant.
Tiempos del Mundo

In the search for something original and different, Natalia Conde, sure of herself, has created, is creating and will probably continue to create over the canvas a universe of creatures full of rhythm and mystery, some inspired in feelings or in ideas; others, in turbulent happenings, in catastrophes, in tremendous and absurd experiences.

For this dominican painter, the art, the paint, is not a means of life nor a function, instead, it is the necessity to give free rein to her fantasies, to her open temper; to completely overturn in the invention of those round and at the same time, indecisive beings, that impetuously pass through her paintbrushes to, once captured on the cloth, convert them into her participants in dialogues, jesters and mischievous beings on occasions, frequently serious and stem, but always innermost. The accentuated volume that she accomplishes in her works imprints sculptoristic value to the forms and adds strength to her paintings of intense and sober tones, sometimes monochromatic, in which the shadows and lights harmoniously combine or struggle to destroy one another.

Let nobody look for neither sensibilities nor feminine primeness in Natalia Conde's art. Instead, have them try to guess her creating uneasiness and her constant desire to discover, in the middle of the illuminated obscurity, the human being with his great defects and his great virtues; with his joys and sorrows; with his successes and failures. Because between volumes and roundnesses she looks to accomplish in her works that anguished synthesis capable of revealing, in a bold trait, in a confusing figure, in daring curves, the hidden beauty that she does not want to let escape. Natalia Conde is very passionate of her art; its irredeemable slave. And with her dominating and delightful optimism, before the virgin painting that will serve as support of her dreams, of her hopes, and of her inspiration. It does not matter that her characters are tragic, that her themes are somber, that the forms result enigmatic and imprecise. Because the artist will continue her task with decision, with joy, with an optimistic vision of life.

Singular contrast that of Natalia Conde: a creator capable of capturing on lines, colors, and voluminous death scenes, anguishes and tragedies, and that, at the same time, as a human being, she is open, vivacious, and optimistic.

In the paintings that she presents today in this her second individual exposition the good observer can acknowledge the unbendable personality of this young Dominican artist.

By María Ugarte Art Critic  / Tiempos del Mundo

Thurs 24 of July 2003. Art y culture. Page 49.

María Ugarte: El arte de Natalia Conde

Natalia Conde "Raices en el eterno pasado". 40 x 65.

Por; María Ugarte

Corresponsalía República Dominicana.
Tiempos del Mundo.

A la búsqueda de algo original y diferente, Natalia Conde, segura de si misma, ha creado, crea y probablemente seguirá creando sobre el lienzo un universo de criaturas plenas de ritmo y de misterio, inspiradas unas en sentimientos o en ideas; otras, en acontecimientos turbulentos, en catástrofes, en tremendas y absurdas experiencias.

Para esta pintora dominicana, el arte, la pintura, no es un medio de vida ni un oficio, sino una necesidad de dar rienda suelta a sus fantasías, a su temperamento abierto; de volcarse entera en la invención de aquellos entes rotundos e indecisos a la vez, que pasan impetuosamente a sus pinceles para, una vez plasmados en la tela, convertirlos en sus interlocutores, burlones y traviesos en ocasiones, graves y adustos con frecuencia, pero siempre entrañables. 

El acentuado volumen que logra en sus trabajos imprime a las formas valor escultórico y agrega fuerza a sus cuadros de tonalidades intensas y sobrias, a veces monocromáticas, en los que las sombras y las luces se combinan armoniosamente o luchan por destruirse unas a las otras.

Que nadie busque en la pintura de Natalia Conde sensiblerías ni remilgos femeninos. Que trate en cambio de adivinar en ella la inquietud creadora y su deseo constante de descubrir, en medio de la oscuridad iluminada, al ser humano con sus grandes defectos y sus grandes virtudes; con sus alegrías y sus tristezas; con sus éxitos y sus fracasos.

Porque entre volúmenes y redondeces persigue lograr en sus obras la ansiada síntesis capaz de revelar, en un rasgo audaz, en una confusa figura, en unas curvas atrevidas, la belleza oculta que no quiere dejar que se le escape.

Natalia Conde es una apasionada de su arte; su esclava irredimible. Y con su optimismo avasallador se regodea ante el lienzo virgen que habrá de servirle de soporte a sus sueños, a sus esperanzas, a su inspiración.

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Por María Ugarte / Tiempos del Mundo

Jueves 24 de Julio de 2003. Arte y cultura. Página 49.

Obra que acompañan el artículo:

La Levedad del Ser.

Masacre en Kosovo.