Artist
Lorenzo Belenguer
Lorenzo Belenguer's queer nonbinary artist who works at the intersection of AI, shamanism, and queerness, weaving together ancient wisdom and modern technology to explore identity, healing
@lorenzobelenguer United Kingdom
Artist
Part of events on ArtRabbit in: London
Lorenzo Belenguer is a nonbinary queer visual artist and arts writer based in London and Valencia strongly influenced by Minimalism and Arte Povera. Belenguer works at the intersection of AI, shamanism, and queerness, weaving together ancient wisdom and modern technology to explore identity, healing, and transformation. Belenguer's artistic journey is a continuous exploration of reclamation, resurrecting discarded materials and reimagining traditional European paintings within a postcolonial context. Their work celebrates the arts' potency in communicating compassion and love, serving as a response to the transformative role of art during global crises, such as the recent pandemic. Kathy Battista, Director of Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, described their work as: “Belenguer’s work straddles the realms of sculpture, painting, and drawing. In one area of their practice, they transform metal objects into sculptures that evolve from the visual rhetoric of Minimalism and double as ‘canvases’.” Belenguer's oil drawings on cotton paper, characterised by sparse lines and vivid colors, capture the essence of humanity and nature. Their art delves into the spiritual dimensions of life, resonating with the inner essence of all living organisms. A distinctive facet of Belenguer's creative process involves a shamanic drumming technique that facilitates the emergence of their final artwork. LockDown Queer Performance: Art in Isolation is a powerful and deeply personal collection of performances and reflections by Spanish nonbinary queer artist Lorenzo Belenguer. Set against the backdrop of an empty London during the height of the lockdown in April 2020, this work explores the struggle to communicate and connect in a world that feels increasingly distant as a queer artist. "Una Palabra de Amor para la Comunidad Queer" is a 2-hour durational performance offering words of love to the Queer community. It fosters a non-judgmental space for connection and uplifting artwork, celebrating universal love regardless of identity or orientation. Belenguer's practice as an artist is constantly focused on the reclaiming: be it objects like discarded rusted metal into the gallery spaces and copies of traditional European paintings as symbols of imperial power. Also into the reclaiming of the place of humans into the natural ecosystem as ancient cultures perfectly knew. He is a member of the Gallery Climate Coalition. Previously, Belenguer ran a community art gallery In London for seven years and a project for London 2012 called Testimonies. He supports the power of the Arts to communicate ways to move into a more compassionate and loving society as we are witnessing in the current pandemic. He exhibited and performed at The British Museum, TATE Modern and at the 57th Venice Biennale. The UCL Art Historian Susie Hodge included him as a representative of the Neo-Geometric Conceptualism (Neo-Geo) Movement alongside Jeff Koons and Ashley Bickerton in her latest book. Belenguer's works have been featured in the national media in Spain, Germany, Italy and the UK such as The Independent, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Artforum and The Art Newspaper. Belenguer holds an MA in Artificial Intelligence & Philosophy by the New College of the Humanities in London, and a BA (Hons) in Economics and Business Science by the University of Valencia, Spain.
