HIS INITIATORY COURSE

Ignacio Tomas Carrasco Palmer was born in Argentina in 1975. He studies in Buenos Aires, a bit of psychology initially, then very quickly alot of painting and drawing.

In 1993, whereas he accompanies the group of jazz of his musician father in their European show, Ignacio discovers Paris. Charmed by the artistic boiling of this city, he settles there in 1996. He spends his first Parisian years in the creation of theatre decorations (Théâtre du Soleil - La Cartoucherie, Paris) , the programming of Argentinian music on the radio, and is devoted finally to its true passion: pictorial art. He then exhibits in Paris, Avignon and is selected for the realization of mural frescos (Centre culturel latino-américain de Prague).

In 1999, It leaves Paris for Marseilles, "the exact conpromis between Buenos Aires and Paris" (source: Libération, 20 septembre 2000). There, he meets many artists (Association "Arts, Valeurs et Perspectives"), restaurant holders ( La part des anges, L'Atelier Chocolat) and galleries (Galerie Dunkan- Art Massalia) who allow him to continue his work thanks to individual or collective exposures . Versatile, he creates posters for cultural events, experiences the video realization and "always tries to follow his instincts"(source: La Provence, 19 janvier 2001).

Today, this Argentinian young artist divides himself between France and Argentina. He currently works in collaboration with the Gallery Catherine Phal for the "Collection of contemporary art for child" and thus hopes to open up the children (and parents) to contemporary art.

IGNACIO'S UNIVERSE

Which are these funny creatures which one finds in the work of Ignacio?

Monsters, animals, or characters straight from his imagination which represent his perception of the world.

In his painting full with freshness, we can find the Earth, the Water, the Wind and the Fire, these 4 natural elements are a traditional manner to describe and analyze the world.

Certain symbols are recurring in Ignacio's paintings, such as:
- the foot, the beginning of the body, which is used to measure the world
- newspapers, to leave a trace in time and in the world
- jungles, for the need of nature and of a natural environment
- ochre, the pigments which gives life to the raw material
(source: Galerie Dunka, Identités, 2003).

Inspired by the free figuration, the Argentinian popular art or naif art, the work of Ignacio Carrasco is a colourful work with symbols. The imaginary creatures that he puts in scene "refer to the Paradise, the image of oneself, the elements of life" (source: L'officiel des loisirs, avril 1999).

Ignacio Carrasco is an artist with an exemplary simpleness and humankind, "in love with the life in all its forms"" (source: Lexpress, le Guide, 28 septembre 2000) . It offers a merry, minimalist and contrasted art, a colourful universe wicho helps him to seek the common points between the various species of the planet and to wonder about the intrigues of time.

Article - C. Galipot - Fanantique