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charles

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me


"...expone otro conocido, aunque sea de tres días siempre hace ilusión, CHARLES OLSEN, un neozelandés muy majo enamorado del flamenco, aunque entenderle me costaba dios y ayuda..."
contemporaneiz[arte], marzo 2007
Vine a España en 2003 para estudiar la guitarra flamenca y buscar inspiración para mis pinturas. Tuvo interés en artistas españoles como Velásquez y Goya. Después de obtener la licenciatura en bellas artes (con honores) en Middlesex University, Londres en 1994, he expuesto en Londres, París, Wellington (Nueva Zelanda) y aquí en Madrid. He pintado óleos y acuarelas abstractas desde hace muchas años y mas reciente me han atraído los retratos incluso de los flamencos. Para más información se puede ver en Artfind , The Saatchi Gallery , y Elmundo.es . En 2007 creó dos páginas, Artistas de España y Aotearoa Artists con el idea de enfocar la atención en la rica variedad del arte en España y Nueva Zelanda en myspace. El mismo año recibí 2° premio en el concurso internacional de la galería Saatchi de Londres, el ‘Saatchi Showdown’ con la pintura ‘La Súndari’. Además de la pintura estudio la guitarra con maestro El Entri del barrio importante en flamenco, Cañoroto. Se puede escuchar algunas cositas mías en mi página: charles olsen music .
I came to Spain in 2003 to study flamenco guitar and to get inspiration for my paintings having been attracted to Spanish artists such as Goya and Velazquez. Since finishing my degree at Middlesex University in Fine Art (Hons) in 1994 I have had exhibitions in London, Paris, Wellington (NZ), and here in Madrid. I have been painting abstract oils and watercolours for many years and more recently I've been attracted to painting portraits including portraits of flamencos. For more information see Artfind , The Saatchi Gallery and Elmundo.es . In 2007 I set up two new pages, Artistas de España and Aotearoa Artists , with the idea of drawing attention to the rich variety of work by artists in Spain and New Zealand on myspace. The same year I won second place in the first Saatchi Showdown run by the Saatchi Gallery, London, with the paint 'La Sundari'. I am also studying flamenco guitar with El Entri, one of the maestros of the neighbourhood of Cañoroto. If you want to hear a couple of my recordings see charles olsen music

My Interests

NEW WEBSITE where you can see my paintings and download my biography / NUEVA PÁGINA-WEB donde se puede ver mis pinturas y bajar mi biografía: www.charlesolsen.es

I'd like to meet:

artistas, poetas, musicos y a gente que tienen ideas y quiere hacer proyectos.
artists, poets, musicians and people with ideas and dreams.

Pensamientos lentos (writings and photos):

pensamientoslentos.blogspot.com

Books:


I love to read and have just started reading in Spanish too... One of my favourite books is 'ALI AND NINO, A Love Story' by Kurban Said and I particularly enjoy books about fictional artists: Gulley Jimson in 'The Horse's Mouth', Rabo Karabekian in 'Bluebeard', Ellie Crowther in 'Ellie and the Shadowman', Asher Lev, Hurtle Duffield in 'The Vivisector'... recommendations welcome :-)
"Close your eyes, cover your ears with your hands and open your soul. Remember that night in Teheran? An enormous blue stone hall, the noble signature of Shah Nasreddin over the entrance. In the middle of the hall is a square stage, and all around, sitting, standing, lying, dignified men, excited children, fanatic youths – the devout public at the Passion Play of Holy Hussein. The hall is dimly lit. On stage bearded angels comfort the young Hussein. Grim Khalif Jasid sends his riders into the desert, to bring him the youth’s head. Mournful songs are interrupted by the clinking of swords. Ali, Fatima and Eve, the first woman, wander across the stage, singing many-versed rubaiyats. Someone hands the young Hussein’s head on a gold plate to the Khalif. The spectators tremble and weep. A Mullah passes along the rows collecting tears in cotton wool. There are strong magic powers in those tears. The deeper the beholder’s faith, the greater is the effect of the play on him. A plank of wood becomes the desert, a box the diamond studded throne of the Khalif, a few wooden poles the Garden of Eden, and a bearded man the daughter of the Prophet.
Now open your eyes, drop your hands and look around…"

Ali and Nino, Kurban Said


A little film I made about Lavapies, Madrid, 2007 using just a little digital camera and wandering the streets where I live taking photos and little film clips to get a flavour of the place. There are so many inspiring textures and colours here and having done this one I notice lots more little things in the streets I'd like to film! Hope you enjoy it :-)
..
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My Blog

VI Edición de Los Artistas del Barrio. Días 19 y 20, abril 2008

***VI Edición de 'Los Artistas del Barrio'. Días 19 y 20, abril 2008**Explora la Latina y Lavapiés en busca de artistas ¡Hola!Los artistas del barrio vuelven a exponer su arte, abri...
Posted by charles on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:16:00 PST

self portrait

Inspired by a little film I saw in Casa Encendida recently by Man Ray, this is a piece without sound where I sit in front of the camera for 2 minutes 25 seconds. Filmed on 30 March 2008. [N...
Posted by charles on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:50:00 PST

A walk in the park

The Miss Waslikes never spoke of anything except their latest escapade.I visited the memorial garden in the Retiro Park this week while wandering aimlessly, thinking of someone special. The trees, ta...
Posted by charles on Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:36:00 PST

Lunar eclipse


Posted by charles on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:16:00 PST

Interview with the artist - 2007/08

This is the beginning of an on-going interview about my art/ideas/life in which YOU are the interviewer.  You can ask questions by posting a comment here or sending me a message.  You're wel...
Posted by charles on Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:32:00 PST

Photoshoot with Rocksusto

Polaroid of Jenny and me taken by me on the day she came to do a photoshoot as part of her amazing project: 'A photo a day' in August 2006.  It was great fun and she made me look great!  The...
Posted by charles on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:54:00 PST

statement on my painting from january 1996

statement on my paintingjanuary 1996charles olsenPrefaceI wanted to lay some thoughts bare so I could see them as considerations.  These are thoughts which apply to the process of painting and I ...
Posted by charles on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:23:00 PST

Calendar 2008

I have 30 copies of the calendar: "NEW ZEALAND - CONTEMPORARY ART 2008"available to buy.It includes my painting Kitchen WindowEach calendar is 10 euros (US$15, GB£7.50) + postage.If you are interested...
Posted by charles on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:56:00 PST

XIX Certamen Nacional de Pintura Rapida

XIX Certamen Nacional de Pintura Rapida, Parque de Buen RetiroI'd stumbled across this event in the Retiro a couple of years ago and had never taken part in something like this before.  Last Frid...
Posted by charles on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:07:00 PST

'Los Acais'

'Los Acais' oil on found wooden blind, 2007, portrait of Miryam Chachmany 'La Lucha'...
Posted by charles on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:26:00 PST