My name is Zemog - José Maurício Perdigão Gomes.
I was born on 19 March 1957 in São Domingos do Prata-Minas Gerais. I live in Rio de Janeiro.
I only use the Internet to look at specific subjects of momentary interest. I do not have a preference for any website!
My presence at The Olympic Museum means a great chance to exercise people’s eyes to see the world in a different form.
Regarding my plans for the future, I do not think so much about the future. I’m here now, and I try to live the present with joy. I am a very privileged person, and I’m very grateful for that… I believe in peace and love forever!
I have exhibited since 1985 (Artwear Gallery, NYC) and all over the world, in particular:
The key stages in my artistic career were... When I started to use the material itself as a form of expression. And the humour is very important: it saves the day!
My influences are arte povera, pop culture, the mass media, the streets…Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Arthur Bispo de Rosário and many others.
The material I use mostly is rejected simple everyday materials and other materials that can inspire me! It’s difficult to explain what inspiration is! It comes to the mind like a flash, when mind is open for that. Everything in life is stimulus!
The city of Rio inspires me because Rio is a city which is very much alive, and I love to walk around and see how people can be creative. I live in Santa Teresa, old Rio, with a wonderful view of Guanabara Bay.
Sport inspires me because my father was a physical education teacher, and we always practised many sports. I already won a medal in volleyball at high school!
For me, the Rio Olympic Games are an incredible experience for the city of Rio and the world. to celebrate through sport the tolerance between human beings.
For Zemog, anything can become something else: wood, nails, bowls, bottle tops, you name it. As soon as a random object fires his imagination and gets into his hands, it acquires a new meaning and status.
Whether it is insignificant or expensive, elegant or kitsch, Zemog uses the object to achieve humour and poetry.
