From stroke to sculpture: Matta

David Heredia, Justo Pastor Mellado, and Eulogio Rojas unveiled the digital edition of the essay crafted to anchor an exhibition Mellado curated himself—an endeavor that unlocked a fresh way to deconstruct the notion of the 'stroke' in Roberto Matta's universe. Far beyond a mere concept, it’s a daring bid to crack open his practice, while dissecting everything that's been penned about Matta in Chile from the nineties to the present day.

Simultaneously, it tackled the existential question of what it actually takes to stage a Matta exhibition today. The digital release—which also spawned a handful of coveted paper copies—was helmed by the Eulogio Rojas Durán Collection. I had the absolute privilege of joining him to deliver a curatorial commentary on these writings. Deep gratitude to all the kindred spirits who joined us for the launch, with a special nod to David Heredia for his stellar hospitality and for brewing up these vital collisions of art and culture.

“From Stroke to Object” was a free, synchronized multi-venue exhibition across Viña del Mar honoring the iconic Chilean painter, printmaker, and sculptor Roberto Matta Echaurren. Unfolding simultaneously across five cultural hotspots, it was curated by Justo Pastor Mellado, who contributed the critical essays anchoring this tribute. Those writings now live inside this book—an entirely non-profit venture aimed at unleashing Matta’s life, craft, and legacy to the world. As always, it promises a fiery crossroads for dialogue on art writing, guided by one of the sharpest curatorial minds on both the domestic and global circuits.