Be attacked by a graphic injection of satire! Chilean artist Chadid presents his first solo exhibition in New Zealand: Sur Ataka! at Satellite Gallery.

Be attacked by a graphic injection of satire! Chilean artist Chadid presents his first solo exhibition in New Zealand: Sur Ataka! at Satellite Gallery.

Chadid's ability to capture characters using sketchy malformed limbs and leering grins makes for bold, humorous and violent work. "I like to bombard my paintings with colours just like the push of that button. And the result of that is my style of painting that I call Folk Pop-Art mixed with a beastie and thriving imagination," says Chadid.

The thoughts, actions and innards of the bizarre inhabitants of his self created world are seen working away inside them, like anatomical cartoons urging the viewer to consider the fragility and imperfection of our own meaty bodies. Text, often entirely in Spanish, is an intriguing compliment to his already diagram-like paintings, statements such as 'Basquait is dead and happy' reveal his deeper understanding of the power this brand of graffiti-like expressionism wields. Upon reflection, Chadid's crazed and visually overwhelming portraits pose poignant social and philosophical questions that leave a sting long after the initial attraction. Jose was trained in Graphic Design at the University of Art and Sciences, ARCIS in Santiago. He went on to study painting and drawing at the Alhambra Palace and has exhibited his work in galleries throughout Chile.

IN HIS OWN WORDS "I was raised in a small city (Arica), in the north of Chile, very close to Peru. A place where the colours became part of a highway with different representations of smells; which I think is were I got my colour influences. I used to go to the markets in Peru and all the locals were wearing bright fluorescent ponchos, and the food was very unique. All the trivial things had colours that you could never imagine they would have. My childhood, I could say that it was the best time in my life. The one that every child wishes for because I had all the toys that I could possibly imagine and some I couldn't. My father owned a toy importer company that brought the world of Hong Kong to Chile. After the toys, came ATARI which, I could say, changed my life. Not because I was a fanatic player but because of the graphics that amused me so much I decided to study graphic design later on. This was very important in my life. -Jose Chadid

Chadid SUR ATAKA! 30 July - 10 August

Opening: Tues 29th July 5.30 - 7pm

Corner of St Benedicts Street and Newton Road (Entrance St Benedict's St) Newton, Auckland www.satellitegallery.co.nz (09) 3076416

Open: 11.00 - 7.00 Tuesday 11.00 - 5.00 Wednesday - Friday 10.00 - 3.00 Saturday and Sunday Entry is free to all

23/07/08