Photographs, drawings on paper, sculpted paper and other documents
22 x 33 x 2 cm
Mau Samayoa’s work is a poetic meditation on the fragmentary nature of memory, engaging with its instability and capacity for reinvention. Through meticulously arranged paper fragments, he creates visual palimpsests that evoke the interplay of personal experience and cultural identity. His practice gestures toward a liminal space where form and recollection collide, resonating with the rhythms of time and migration.
Documents, sculpted paper, coloured pencil and other materials
22 x 33 x 1 cm
My work is based on the idea of memory and information, trying to answer the question of how to process it and transcribe it into a visual object. These ‘transcripts' are often based on specific personal memories that I then try to "codify" and extract from the paper as an abstract bitmap with surgical scalpels and tweezers. Those memories are often in relation to my upbringing as a catholic raised gay man, cultural identity, time and the repetitiveness of disciplinary actions and physical punishments.
Soft pastel, coloured pencil and wax on sculpted cotton paper
22 x 15 x 2 in
These bundles found their genesis three years ago when I was organizing my studio space; it was quite a small space with no storage units so I had to stack all of my works on a table where they coexisted with my reference documents like family photographs, childhood drawings, letters, etc. These stacks grew in number and complexity, becoming what I call ‘memory bundles’.
Documents, sculpted paper, coloured pencil and other materials
22 x 33 x 1 cm
Sculpted cotton paper
22 x 17 x 1.5 in
In contrast with my sculpted drawings with paper, in which I attempt to codify experiences and feelings through the repetitive act of cutting and peeling, these bundles explore the same idea by the layering of the many documents I have accumulated and travelled with since I migrated from El Salvador to Argentina, and then to the UK. The end result is a non-linear story of different events, ideas, places, etc. that are not only mine but appropriated from other sources.
The majority of the documents are extremely personal, but not all of them are. I like the idea of combining other people’s memories with mine, using magazines, newspapers, and random objects.
Documents, sculpted paper, coloured pencil and other materials
22 x 33 x 1 cm
Documents, sculpted paper, coloured pencil and other materials
22 x 33 x 1 cm
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Mau Samayoa (b. 1989, San Vicente, El Salvador) is an artist whose practice explores the fluid and evolving nature of memory, transforming personal experiences into abstract visual forms. Employing a meticulous process with scalpels and tweezers, Samayoa creates intricate bitmaps that investigate themes of cultural identity, migration, and the ritualistic aspects of discipline and physical punishment. By abstracting memory, their work captures its adaptability over time, reflecting both individual and societal change.
Central to Samayoa’s practice is the materiality of paper, which serves as a metaphor for memory’s fragility and resilience. Working with sculpted cotton paper, they piece together fragmented recollections to create tactile and intimate works that resonate universally. Samayoa resides and works in Birmingham, UK, and studied Fine Arts and Art Restoration at the Universidad Nacional de Artes in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
For Your Viewing Pleasure
Derrick Velasquez is a Denver-based artist and curator. He holds degrees in Studio Art and Art History from the University of California, and an MFA from Ohio State University. His work, which explores the intersection of sculpture, installation, architecture, and design, has been exhibited at venues including the MCA Denver and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.
TOMISLAV GOTOVAC (1937–2010) was a seminal figure in the avant-garde art scene of the former Yugoslavia, renowned for his pioneering contributions to performance art, experimental film, and conceptual art. Born in Sombor, Vojvodina, he moved to Zagreb in 1941, where he spent his formative years immersed in the city's vibrant cultural milieu.
MLADEN STILINOVIC (1947–2016) was a Croatian conceptual artist whose work profoundly influenced the art scene in the former Yugoslavia and beyond. Born in Belgrade, he moved to Zagreb in 1959, where he became a central figure in the "New Art Practice" movement during the 1970s.
CURT HARBITS is an American artist whose work traverses the realms of fine art and graphic design, with a particular emphasis on collage techniques. Operating under the moniker "Ritual Cuts," Harbits engages in the meticulous process of sorting and assembling diverse materials to create intricate visual narratives.
SONIA OTERO is a Galician-based collage illustrator whose works have garnered international attention. She employs analog collage techniques, complemented by graphite and ink, to create pieces that narrate stories, convey ideas, or evoke emotions, often inviting personal interpretation from viewers.
Out and About
What to watch, read, and experience, as curated by the Collé team.
▼ READ
Eunice Parsons, Who Elevated Collage to New Heights, Dies at 108
Parsons, an American modernist known for her collage work, passed away on November 16, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 108. Her extensive career, spanning over seven decades, encompassed various mediums, including printmaking, painting and collage.
▼ READ
Collage Beyond Modernism – Freya Gowrley
Gowrley examines the extensive history of collage, tracing its origins to practices predating the modernist era. She explores how technological advancements, such as mass production, have influenced collage by introducing new materials like newspaper clippings and chromolithographic images.
▼ LISTEN
Welcome Home – Hannah Cohen
A lush, introspective album that explores longing and self-discovery through haunting melodies and intimate lyrics—offering a tender soundtrack for reflection and creativity.
