Artist Profile | JORGE GONZÁLEZ
detail of JORGE GONZÁLEZ (photo Debbie Bragg)
JORGE GONZÁLEZ
(1964, SAN MIGUEL, SANTIAGO - CHILE)
The first portrait unveiled of the three made by Ian Berry to celebrate the trio of Chilean iconic artists is one of the most important and influential musicians in Chile and Latin America - Jorge Humberto González Ríos.
González is the former leader of the rock band Los Priosioneros, a popular group from the 1980s, which he joined with Miguel Tapia (drums) and Claudio Narea (guitar). The group, known for its songs of a political nature and in opposition to the military leadership of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), released six studio albums.
His first LP, "La voz de los 80" (1984) is one of his most important albums of his entire career. From there come songs like "La voz de los ‘80” (The voice of the 80s), "Latinoamérica es un pueblo al sur de Estados Unidos” (Latin America is a town in the south of the United States), “Sexo” (Sex), "Paramar", “¿Quién mató a Marilyn?” (Who killed Marilyn), among others.
Later, they released other albums: "Pateando piedras" (1986), "La cultura de la basura"(1987) and "Corazones” (1990). Claudio Narea left the group when Los Prisioneros released "Corazones", considered in 2008 one of the most important albums of Chilean music, with strong electronic influences and romantic lyrics, according the chilean edition of Rolling Stone Magazine.
After the first dissolution of Los Prisioneros, in 1991, González unfolded his varied musical interests in a solo career on equally diverse stations, including the kind and spiritual pop of his solo debut in “Jorge González” (1993), the experimentation of “El futuro se fue” (1994) and a position of renewed acidity in “Mi destino. Confesiones de una estrella de rock” (1999).
His interest in techno sound and several years of residence in New York (where he studied Sound) during the nineties, brought him closer to outstanding exponents of electronic music, the result of which collaborations with the prestigious German musician Uwe Schmidt (Señor Coconut), the Chilean-German group Sieg Über Die Sonne and the Chilean Vicente Sanfuentes (Original Hamster), as well as the duo Gonzalo Martínez, formed together with Martín Schopf (Dandy Jack)
photo by Debbie Bragg
The troubled reunion of Los Prisioneros between 2001 and 2006 left González convinced of the virtues of solo work, which he has continued to carry out through projects such as Los Updates.
In February 2015, Jorge González suffered a cerebrovascular accident that left him with motor sequelae. The musician lives in San Miguel district of Santiago, where he resides with his brother and rarely gives interviews, although he always gives an opinion on political and social events in the country.
photo by Debbie Bragg
Ian Berry had the great pleasure of visiting Jorge at his home and talking bout the portrait, his life, music and even football. Ian Berry was humbled to meet one of Chile’s great icon’s and cherishes the beer drank together.
News
News from the studio of Ian Berry
NEW!
Ian Berry’s, SPLENDID ISOLATION is out now and available to order online. The book is a collaboration with publisher Jap Sam Books in The Netherlands with the Museum Rijswijk to coincide with the Solo Museum show of the same name.
The book includes
· a foreward by Museum Rijswijk curator Diana Wind and Director Arnoud van Aalst
· 160 page paperback book
· Over 150 images in full colour (well, full of blue)
· Looks over some of his 15 years of making his artwork using only denim
· Many images show detail shots of his work that have to be seen to be believed.
The book was launched at the 2020 Virtual Art Book Fair (VABF) organized by Tokyo Art Book Fair (TABF) with Jap Sam. The fair was originally scheduled for Fall 2020 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. It then debuted at the Museum shop at Museum Rijswijk and was popular with visitors. You can now get it here.
The book comes signed by the artist Ian Berry and you can also request a message to be sent. We can post around the world with the postages below, including a special launch offer.
Postage
· £2.50 to the UK (Free with FREESHIPPING code at check out)
Postage outside the UK will come up at Check out.
Along with Museum Rijswijk and Jap Sam Books the book was made possible by the museum show principle sponsor Pepe Jeans London, along with Tencel, Famore Cutlery, Cone Denim and Tonello.