About Me

Vitor MM Azevedo

I am now based in my own art studio near the Cathedral Quarter in the centre of Derby and keen to work with other artists to develop new and exciting projects that reach boundaries that will inspire and enthrall audiences.

Alongside commissioned work, I carry out community based work as a visiting artist, teaching and demonstrating a variety of workshops encouraging the use of a sustainable practice for all ages and abilities. I also curate exhibitions for galleries as required.
 
Having spent the last few years exploring a range of visual art practices, I have come to the conclusion that my work particularly addresses the conflict between objects that are misplaced, and the observation of everyday happenings or concepts that are then placed in a conflicting environment.
My experimentation with this subject challenges the way an audience may look at things, sometimes making the comfortable uncomfortable and observing the balance of what is usually acceptable or not.

I enjoy the fact that visual arts can embrace other art forms and evolve into a collaborative spectacle, each art form identifying it’s own strength but  reflecting the final piece of work as a whole. All of the work I make begins with a spontaneous reaction derived from points of interest or stimulus, and as the work develops, there is a progression as the initial concepts transform into a unique combination. There are artists that inspire me such as Frida Kahlo, Tracey Emin, Lucien Freud and Pablo Picasso because they broke new ground by pushing the boundaries of acceptance and demand a reaction whether good or bad.  I feel that any comment is better than none at all.  I also feel that everyday life is like a palette, little pieces can be used to create work that reaches an audience rather than being self absorbed.

A lot of my work recognizes my own personal history which stems from a background of religious symbolism, family values, a love of the sea and the traditions of Portugal. I enjoy the exploration of these memories to freeze a portion of my own personal, cultural and social history through the construction of specific materials and concepts.

We all have a past that is often sub-consciously transmitted into our work and sometimes only after completion do we reflect to realise this. 

I aim to invite the audience or viewer to feel some form of contact with my work, realizing that they themselves will interpret it in a completely different way.

I enjoy to mix mediums to make sculptures using metal, wood, glass, and paper to create large and small scale installations alongside the use of acrylics, oils, pastels, and inks to “play” with different layers and dimensions to create tangible tactile work.
A huge interest of mine is to combine exhibitions with physical theatre and collaborate with other artists, such as musicians, dancers, video projection and film to create a full menu of visual art that compliments all aspects.

To me, my work reflects my own personal journey becoming a capsule of time, change, landscape, travel and self analysis. I hope I can share my work with people that are used to “watching” art as well as newcomers and at least try to make people think. The result is art that reacts with its own environment.