Sandro Cocco

I'm born in Antwerp (1973). My father was of Italian descent (Sardinia) and my mother was Belgian. I started my Art education with a year of studying Illustration (1993) where I learned the basic techniques. But I chose to study Painting the following year (1994) because I wanted to explore my personal expression. During my studies of Painting (1994-1998), the first two years I mainly drew from observation: figure drawing, still lifes, interiors. During the second year of figure drawing, I started drawing without looking at the paper (blind drawing). This was the impulsion to start making my 'own' work in the third year. This is the moment (1996) when I started making abstract 'Amorphous' drawings. These are drawings in which I leave the perception of reality behind me to discover my own inner shape world. This on the basis of the technique 'écriture automatique' that was often used by the Surrealists. After making drawings and paintings with 'Amorphous' forms, I felt the need to create those forms in other media, which manifested itself in prints, sculptures, installations, photography and videos. In the fourth year (1998) I wanted to explore the narrative and this resulted in twenty digital photo collages. For three years I continued to make photo collages (1999-2001). That is the reason why I decided to study Comics (2001-2003). I made a biographical Graphic Novel and published a few short stories in a few magazines, but I felt the urge to create 'free' Artworks again without any limits of expression. So in 2004 I started making abstract 'Amorphous' drawings again in the technique of 'écriture automatique'. Until in November 2005, I visited a friend who had a Surrealist-style painting on his wall. The use of symbols in that painting invited me to start my series 'Imaginary Rooms' in which I use figuratively recognizable motifs. For me it's actually a kind of diary in 'écriture automatique' in which I hope to communicate with the viewer. Last December (2021) I started a new series which I call 'Head' series. I would like to create works to contemplate.

Exhibitions

1998 Presentation of a painting in evolution, Antwerp

1998 Installation of a bathtub, Antwerp

1998 My studio as an aquarium, Antwerp

1998 Total installation, Big Brother, Think-T(h)anks, projection digital collages, Antwerp

1998 Projection of slides of a painting in evolution, installation of a bathtub with a photo collage, photo document cloud room, Antwerp

1998 Idea Room, installation of Amorphous sculptures, Antwerp

1998 Digital presentation, Cultural Center 'De Warande', Turnhout

2000 Amorphous sculptures, Calligraphies of a swimming pool, Bruges

2000 Land-art amorphous, dog woman sculpture, Half reliëf of Kanako, photo document of my studio as an aquarium, photo document of my studio in mutation, Antwerp

2001 Presentation of a short story 'The Visit', Ghent

2002 Presentation of a comic "L'Autre Côté", Ghent

2003 Presentation of "The Pick-up", Ghent

2003 Presentation of my comic "Bd sur bd", Ghent

2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Art fair "Art of the region", Renaix

2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Art fair "Week of Art", Renaix

2009 Exhibition Ink watercolors and etchings with Kanako Higa, Naha, Okinawa, Japan

2013 Exhibition Preview The Other Side, history of a psychosis, Post office, Rochefort, België

2013 Publicatie van de strip 'The Other Side, verhaal van een psychose' in Le Moule à Gaufres

2014 Participation Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d'Angoulême

2015 Participation Festival BD Contern, Luxemburg

2016 Participation Festival BD, Geraardsbergen

2017 Exhibition Motz-en Folie, Dinant

2017 Exhibition Solo, Academy of Fine Arts, Namur

2017 Exhibition 'Imaginary Rooms', Château d'eau, Jemelle

2018 Exhibition Welcome to Wallonia, Jemelle

2020 Exhibition Mouvements #6, Cultural Center, Rochefort