CAF and TAGA present the 12th Luisa Palacios Miniature Graphics Biennial 2006

(Caracas, November 17, 206). - In line with its work of disseminating the creative activities of Latin American peoples and in homage to a recognized Venezuelan plastic artist, maestro Carlos Cruz-Diez, the Andean Development Corporation once more welcomes the 12th annual Luisa Palacios Miniature Graphics TAGA Biennial, contributing to the continuity of an initiative which, in addition to sharing creativity, stimulates international research in the area of graphic arts.

The event will take place on November 23 at 7:00 pm in the CAF Gallery. About 150 artists have responded to the biennial invitation with works executed with traditional engraving techniques, as well as those that incorporate technology as a new way of reproducing graphic works.

"From the countries of the region and Europe, talented plastic creators of all generations and tendencies have been stimulated by the spirit that emanates from the personality and kindly character of maestro Carlos Cruz-Diez, from his persevering research and his generosity in teaching new generations, especially children," said Ana Mercedes Botero, head of the CAF External Relations Office. This event is one of many activities that CAF sponsors to strengthen the development and integrated formation of human beings through creativity and artistic expression, at the same time as contributing to the dissemination and potential of regional talent and identity, Botero added.

Art lovers will appreciate over 100 tendencies displayed in the works on show; local and international artists echo the craft techniques of graphics: the subtleties of metal engraving, the warmth of lithography, and the concrete of serigraphy.

About Carlos Cruz-Diaz Carlos Cruz-Diaz is one of the great names of Venezuelan, Latin American, and perhaps universal culture. The transcendence of his life and work is such that it is no exaggeration to say that it can be appreciated in many facets of daily life. Starting with the obvious, the presence of his work at urban scale, whose familiarity for Venezuelans has created a special sensibility, a modern opening to shape, color, movement, and art understood as ambit for full sensory participation.

Another aspect of the work of Cruz-Diez is his link with the graphic arts. His early works as designer and publicist taught him the art of stamping, and gave him the basic tools for the conceptualization and development of all his later work. The essential multiplicity of graphic works stimulated his reflection on the role of the work of art in society, subverting the sacralization of the single and untouchable piece for a proposal of participative, urban social art in a broad sense, deeply human, multiple and accessible.

Serigraphy was also a relevant part of his work. In the middle decades of the 20th century, this was the ideal medium for achieving the multiplicity of the piece without violating its plastic quality. Lately, the maestro took these investigations to the limit by introducing digital media into his pieces, reaching the extreme of devising a program that permits the user "to create physichromes" based on combinable options of colors and shapes.

On the occasion of presenting this TAGA miniatures biennial, an important show for projection of young generations of graphic artists, we cannot cease to value the lessons that maestro Cruz-Diaz leaves us as human being: his unbreakable love of life, his joy and the value that he gave to family and friendship.