CARLOS MATA

 

More than any other sculptor, Carlos Mata was a highly skilled and talented artist. His rigorous minimalism, refined works, and deep knowledge of his craft made him a figure of genuine artistic distinction. Carlos Mata set himself apart from most modern sculptors through his absolute dedication to the traditional technique of sand casting. Rather than producing editions of the same sculpture, Mata almost always created his bronzes as unique pieces, casting each work in a one-time sand mold. This meant that every sculpture was not only original in design, but also singular in its very making — impossible to duplicate.

 

Sand casting is a labor-intensive and technically demanding process. Each mold must be built anew and cannot be reused. The method introduces subtle irregularities and material tensions into the surface of the bronze. Where other sculptors might have viewed these as imperfections, Mata embraced them as opportunities. With chisel and file, he refined the roughness left by the casting, integrating these natural variations into his personal sculptural language.

 

This approach placed Mata in direct dialogue with traditions reaching back to Renaissance masters such as Ghiberti and Donatello, who also valued the expressive possibilities of surface irregularity. Like them, Mata used the physical “memory” of the casting process to bring life, texture, and depth to his sculptures. He then applied his extraordinary and highly personal patinas — ranging from deep greens to delicate pinks — further enriching each work with chromatic complexity and individuality.

 

By choosing to work in this way, Mata made a deliberate artistic statement. At a time when many sculptors relied on foundries to produce multiple copies, he insisted on the authenticity of the unique object. Only in the final year of his life did he begin to experiment with producing limited editions of certain works — a significant shift that highlights how deeply he had valued uniqueness for the entirety of his career.

The result is a body of work that is not only admired for its elegant minimalism and powerful forms, but also for the rarity of its execution. Every sculpture stands as an unrepeatable testament to Carlos Mata’s commitment to originality, craftsmanship, and the timeless values of sculpture.

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Romy de Rave

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