Daniel Pontet
Encyclopedia
Daniel Pontet is a Uruguay
an-born artist working in the US.
Pontet was born in Montevideo
, Uruguay, South America
, in and has resided in Miami, Florida
since 1991. He developed artistically in Uruguay, under watercolor painter and art teacher Esteban Garino – who taught him the art of drawing and composition - and under artists Americo Sposito and Hector Laborde, who instilled into him the magic of color and a particular emphasis on space and shapes. He also completed courses in Art History at the School of Humanities of the University of the Republic of Uruguay. Furthermore, he studied silkscreen, photography, and computer graphics as a complement to his art education.
The earliest stage of Pontet’s work can be placed within the expressionist and the neo expressionist circles and during this time he uses drawing as a fundamental element. He opens and closes spaces and organizes his balance and refuge in the canvass with grace and strength, as well as drama and lyricism. In this period, he devotes most of his energy and power of expression to depicting a world of indifferent, dauntless, and forlorn characters. Pontet stirs these meditative beings with an expressionist glare, manifesting a deep and underlying reflection on the human condition. He also creates unique rhythmical and chromatic consonances throughout these motifs. Pontet’s early series share outstanding traits characterized by accomplished drawing, well thought-out compositions, mathematically precise structures, distortions and deliberate elongations, as well as the use of a rich polychrome palette of tones and hues.
Today, immersed in a new plastic period called “Metamorphosis,” Pontet is re-creating part of an enigmatic world of symbols. From realism to abstraction, Pontet’s current work – teeming with feelings, thoughts, meditations, and not lacking in lyricism - is eminently plastic. His compositions, far from being descriptive, narrative or literary, are true plastic records of thoughts expressed in two or three-dimensional surfaces. These works of art or “collages” look like accurate maps where we can find a path to think as well as reflect about our own spiritual life. This late series is also characterized by colors extracted from the soil – from brown to red oxide – and incrusted objects – keys, nails, washers, piece of fabrics, threads - which become powerful symbols and metaphors. Each symbol carries a profound spiritual message.
Daniel Pontet started exhibiting in 1975 and has participated in more than 80 art shows. He has received several prizes and acknowledgments and continues to show that his creativity has found no end. Effort and devotion are his most precious tools along with truthfulness.
As the Chilean writer Antonio Landauro once said about Daniel Pontet: “It goes without saying that this creative artist, like all genuine artists, always attains self-expression, whether he is understood, half understood, or not at all.”
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an-born artist working in the US.
Pontet was born in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, in and has resided in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
since 1991. He developed artistically in Uruguay, under watercolor painter and art teacher Esteban Garino – who taught him the art of drawing and composition - and under artists Americo Sposito and Hector Laborde, who instilled into him the magic of color and a particular emphasis on space and shapes. He also completed courses in Art History at the School of Humanities of the University of the Republic of Uruguay. Furthermore, he studied silkscreen, photography, and computer graphics as a complement to his art education.
The earliest stage of Pontet’s work can be placed within the expressionist and the neo expressionist circles and during this time he uses drawing as a fundamental element. He opens and closes spaces and organizes his balance and refuge in the canvass with grace and strength, as well as drama and lyricism. In this period, he devotes most of his energy and power of expression to depicting a world of indifferent, dauntless, and forlorn characters. Pontet stirs these meditative beings with an expressionist glare, manifesting a deep and underlying reflection on the human condition. He also creates unique rhythmical and chromatic consonances throughout these motifs. Pontet’s early series share outstanding traits characterized by accomplished drawing, well thought-out compositions, mathematically precise structures, distortions and deliberate elongations, as well as the use of a rich polychrome palette of tones and hues.
Today, immersed in a new plastic period called “Metamorphosis,” Pontet is re-creating part of an enigmatic world of symbols. From realism to abstraction, Pontet’s current work – teeming with feelings, thoughts, meditations, and not lacking in lyricism - is eminently plastic. His compositions, far from being descriptive, narrative or literary, are true plastic records of thoughts expressed in two or three-dimensional surfaces. These works of art or “collages” look like accurate maps where we can find a path to think as well as reflect about our own spiritual life. This late series is also characterized by colors extracted from the soil – from brown to red oxide – and incrusted objects – keys, nails, washers, piece of fabrics, threads - which become powerful symbols and metaphors. Each symbol carries a profound spiritual message.
Daniel Pontet started exhibiting in 1975 and has participated in more than 80 art shows. He has received several prizes and acknowledgments and continues to show that his creativity has found no end. Effort and devotion are his most precious tools along with truthfulness.
As the Chilean writer Antonio Landauro once said about Daniel Pontet: “It goes without saying that this creative artist, like all genuine artists, always attains self-expression, whether he is understood, half understood, or not at all.”
Education
- Sculpture -Welding- Sardi’s Studio. Art Center South Florida. Miami Beach - FL, 1997.
- Fine Art Studies. Lucia Ametrano Art Gallery. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1988.
- Art History Courses. School of Humanities, University of Uruguay. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1987-1988.
- Photography -Basic and Advanced- Ateneo de Montevideo. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1983-1984.
- Drawing and Painting, Garino’s Art Studio. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1981.
- Silk-Screen, UTU. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1979.
- Advertising and Artistic Drawing, Garino’s Art Studio. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1976-1977.
Activities related to education
- Art Teacher. Pontet’s Art Studio. Miami - FL, 1997-1998.
- Art Teacher. Pontet’s Art Studio. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1987-1990.
- Advertising Teacher, Ateneo de Montevideo. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1982.
Acknowledgments
Miami Dade College. Miami - FL, 1998. Honor student. Outstanding Academic Achievement. Membership at the Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa. Recognition at National Dean’s List - US.Awards
- Second Prize. Hispanic Heritage Month Art Contest, Nationwide. Columbus - OH, 2004.
- First Prize Miami. Heineken Hispanic Mural Program. Heineken & GenArt. Reprod. at Flagler St. & 27 Ave. Miami – FL, 2004.
- First, Second, and Third Place. Best Original Art Work. Annual Awards Competition, AFCP. Las Vegas – NV, 2003.
- Honorable Mention. New Trends#1. Ralb & Co. Fine Art. Miami - FL, 2001.
- Honorable Mention. 14th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival. Nations Bank Building. Miami - FL, 1998.
- Honorable Mention. Las Americas. The Florida Museum of Hispanic and Latin American Art. Coral Gables - FL, 1998.
- Third Prize. Nuestro Arte. Johnnie Walker. Miami - FL, 1996.
- First Prize. Design Competition. Victoria Plaza Hotel. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1987.
- Special Mention. 3rd Young Artists Show. Coca-Cola and Pluna. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1987.
- Mention. 3rd Spring Salon. Anglo-Uruguayan Cultural Institute. Montevideo – Uruguay, 1985.
- Mention. 2nd Youth Christian Art Competition. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1985.
- Honorable Mention. 2nd Spring Salon. Anglo-Uruguayan Cultural Institute. Montevideo - Uruguay, 1984.
Stages
- 2004 – Present: SYMBOLISM. Metamorphosis: A new artistic stage. Incrusted objects become symbols. Reflections and thoughts as maps with colors extracted from the soil.
- 1987–2004: EXPRESSIONISM. Distortions and deliberated elongations. A polychrome palette of tones and hues.
- 1975–1987: REALISM. Earliest stage. Light and shadows. Particular emphasis on drawing.