Art Farm Iowa is excited to host renowned artist to paint a mural showcasing the ‘Malibu Penit’. Christian Mendoza was one of the most prolific artists of the early Miami graffiti scene going by the tag “EDEC”.
The Malibu Penit (also called the Malibu Houses) was an area that became an epicenter for graffiti writers in Miami. The name “The Penit” came from another area in Miami that was an abandoned building intended to be a Penitentiary — resulting in the name ‘The Penit’ — which was then applied to other graffiti areas in Miami. These ‘Penits’ became locations where Miami graffiti writers learned and showcased their writing skills. Christian will be re-interpreting one of the walls of the ‘Malibu Penit’ with an 8’ x 20’ wall.
Christian was part of the Miami graffiti crew “THE INKHEADS” which featured artist Jose Parla and Jel Martinez. Previously, Jel visited Art Farm Iowa and completed a mural.
ABOUT CHRISTIAN
Christian Aaron Mendoza is a New York City based Artist & Designer whose work draws from early Experiences with Nature, Architecture, Design, Art History, Fashion , Botanical Books, influences of New York City, Miami, Tokyo and his travels. Mendoza’s style bridges the Modern, Primitive, and Organic. He draws strongly on the nature and folklore of his Latin American Heritage and his Worldwide Studies while interpreting the density and chaos of daily urban life.
In the 1980’s his family moved to The Bronx where Mendoza began to develop a style that combining Architectural Draftsmanship, Collage & with the new inspirations of Museums, Libraries, Galleries, Public & indoor Sculptures, letters, faces, and forms that then covered the subways and urban walls of the city. At a young age in his Native Nicaragua, he learned drafting and about architecture from his father. This inspiration brought Mendoza to the study of Ancient Civilizations, Navigation Maps, Hieroglyphs, Petroglyphs, Calligraphies, and Alphabets from both past and Modern Cultures in the Americas. With great dedication he continued his study of World Alphabets, Art History, Color, light Energy and Movement, working in a range of styles that culminate all the influences of his early development.
His paintings are grounded with descriptive line work that creates a sense of movement and energy. A visual manifestation of the sonic combinations found in early Electronic Music, Comic Books & early Analog Hip-Hop and House Music mix tapes and performances emanate from his surfaces. Interchangeability between the sense of visual and audio is an artistic subject that has been pursued universally and historically, and Mendoza’s practice can also be positioned in that context. It is something that goes beyond an ordinary world that an individual perceives through the five senses, instead, it enables an individual to access the supernatural / mythological world through so-called collective unconsciousness. Science-fictional elements that can often be seen in Mendoza’s works function as motives to emerge such a mythological world from the mixture of ancient culture and urban life experience that are his resources of daily inspiration.
Mendoza has been commissioned by Altoids (Brooklyn & Miami), Crispin, Porter + Bogusky for Kaiser Family Foundation (VH1), Deutsch LA, Ray-Ban (benefiting ONE SIGHT) Luxottica, NISSAN North America , Puma North America ,Marui Group Ltd ,Timberland (benefiting The National MS Society), Wynwood Walls Miami ,Goldman Properties; The Creek South Beach Hotel, Albion Hotel ,HBO, Mountain Dew for PepsiCo, Mirrorball, Colab Projects Group , H&M Hennes & Mauritz, Sony, and is in collections such as Soho House, Nissan USA, Escada US, SSTV Network, Chavez Design, Altoids, Breil Haus, People Design Institute NPO Japan; Hotcake Records Tokyo, NextidEvolution Fujiyamastore LTD Truth & Soul Records, Def Jam Records Japan , NBC Universal. Express, Scion, X-large Japan, Beams Tokyo, Ships Ltd Japan B's Point, Overthinking wastaken Advertising Agency , New York University , Saratoga Arts , Institute of Omoshiro Mirai Tokyo.