"Objects are very powerful and can evoke recollections of memories and experiences. Symbolic, historical, we identify them as a part of who we are or were and assign them significance and value. They can be personal or collective and pass from generation to generation or across cultures. My work playfully explores these relationships introducing some viewers to objects that have made the journey through time and reconnecting others to memories of their past.
I gather my medium from every corner of the world – drawn to their individual tales and aesthetics. Some bear the marks of time: wear from use, decades of weather and countless years forgotten in a barn or attic. Others show evidence of their former owners – a child’s name, a tradesman’s initials or skilled engraver’s dedication.
I enjoy the difficulties and physical challenges of assembling these unrelated objects. From sketches to final assembly require preparation, patience and an ever expanding skill set. Screws, bolts and armature are hidden in the completed work to further create the illusion of the parts naturally fitting together. The viewer’s initial response is to the charm of the constructed characters and sculptures I create. This emotional response invites them to make a closer inspection and discovery. Viewers are invited to share their knowledge and experiences with objects they find in the work and this ultimately becomes integrated into its universal collective story."
Mike Rivamonte's work is held by collectors around the world including Fusion-Io, Hyatt Grand Hotel and the collection of Martin Z. Margulies. His work has been published in Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art for the last five years. Mike lives and works in Miami, FL.