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Paula Rosa Art

Foto: Julie Laurin

Biography

Paula Rosa is a designer and visual artist living and working in Lisbon. She showed an early interest in Visual Arts and Design, which proceeded naturally in her academic training. She graduated from University Lusófona in Equipment and Space Design and from Jean Piaget Institute in Design and Production Management of Pedagogical Media.


Fascinated by the Visual Arts, from painting to film animation, she has held several solo and group exhibitions  all over the world. Her work is represented in private collections, museums and institutions in Portugal and abroad. Combining the technical rigour with the inner chaos of inspiration, Paula Rosa sublimates in the emerging digital art, taken with no prejudice nor frontiers, through the most recent technologies. She divides her activity by an art made of brushes and the discipline of Design; a dualistic option that marks her work and its route.

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Paula Rosa's painting merges the tangible medium of technology with the untangible magic of imagination and dreams. Her work transports us into surreal landscapes and solitary images that stir the emotions of anyone who has ever found themselves empty, lonely or in despair. She fuses natural and mechanical constructions to explore new and recurring philosophical themes. Her images are thought-provoking and hit at the very core of emotion... in that place where dreams lie and lies torture and joy manages to creep through rocks like persistent little wild flowers.

​Julie Laurin

About Paula Rosa
Paula Rosa Art

Curriculum Vitae

Paula Rosa

www.paula-rosa.net
art.paula.rosa@gmail.com
[+351] 91 266 82 37

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BORN: April 13th, 1970, Lisbon, Portugal

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Designer, working in various branches of Design such as: Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Equipment Design.

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Visual artist, dedicated to Painting, Sculpture and Illustration.

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Mentor, providing expertise in Descriptive Geometry, Colour Theory, Figure Drawing, Technical and Architectural Drawing, Aesthetics and Art Theory.

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Co-founder of HomoLudens® Design

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ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

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2008: Graduated from Lusófona University,  in Design do Equipamento e do Espaço (Equipment and Space Design).

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1998: Graduated from Instituto Piaget in Design e Gestão da Produção de Equipamento Pedagógico (Design and Production Managment of Pedagogical Media).

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INTERNSHIP

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  • Halmstad University, Sweden, 1998

  • Brio Toys, Osby, Sweden, 1998

  • Centro Hellen Keller, Lisbon, 1997

  • A.C.A.P.O. Lisbon, Portugal

  • C.P.C. Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, 1997

  • Espaço & Brinca, 1996/97

 

TRAINING

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  • Multimedia Computing and Interactivity, ULHT, Lisbon, 2008

  • Design Laboratory, ULHT, Lisbon

  • Computer Assisted Design, ULHT, Lisbon, 2007

  • Production Technologies, I.Jean Piaget, Almada, Portugal, 1998

  • The Nordic Center For Research On Toys And Educational Media, Halmstad University, Sweden, 1998

  • Brio Toys, R&D Department, Osby, Sweden, 1998

  • Brio Toys, Quality Control Department, Osby, Sweden, 1998

  • RALL S.A. Águeda, Portugal, 1997

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SELECTED PROJECTS

 

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  • 2017: Circuíto Habitual, by Jean Claude Carrière, screenplay by Rita Lello, by Teatro Extremo. Poster design and conception.

  • 2014: Depois de Darwin, by Timberlake Wertenbaker, screenplay by Ana Nave, by Teatro Extremo. Video, special effects and scenery.

  • 2013: Plastic Intervention on musical instrument - project for Associação Cultural Museu Cavaquinho , itinerant exhibition 70 Cavaquinhos 70 Artistas.

  • 2010: Revista A - Arte, Luxo, Colecção (magazine A - Art, Luxury, Collection). Editorial design, news design and graphics.

  • 2010: Series of 24 interactive skeleton morphs - project for Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's exhibition A Evolução de Darwin.

  • 2010: Magazine A. Graphic Concept and Editorial design. Publisher: Manuel Carmo Foundation. ISSN: 67/2010 DL: 309264/10.

  • 2010: Cooperation with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's Science Department for the European Foundation Centre presentation of Darwin's Evolution exhibition in Brussels.

  • 2009: Cooperation with M.N.C.N, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spain, for the exhibition La Evolución de Darwin in Madrid.

  • 2009: Cooperation with Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for A Evolução de Darwin exhibition project in Lisbon. Creation of movies, animations, interactive pannels and presentations.

  • 2009: CD cover for Operation Observation by Excubitors, Germany. LC: 09374 - 400590263545

  • 2009: CD cover for The Fall Of 80' by Aura, USA.

  • 2008: Belém, Ubiquitous Era, project for DesenhoV. Concept, storyboard, editorial design, graphics, animation, public intervention project.

  • 2008: I-Move, wearable computer design project. Concept and development.

  • 2007: Project New Digital Media in Art, solo exhibition and workshop at Coimbra Water Museum.

  • 2007: Book cover for Versos Nús, by poet Tiago Nené. Publisher: Magna Editora ISBN: 978-989-8138-00-2 DP: 264476/07.

  • 2006: Collaboration with author Manuel Carmo for the project Manifesto24 in New York. Editorial Design, book cover, graphics and exhibition simulation.

  • 2006: Partnership with AABA (Bairro Alto Art Ateliers), Lisbon.

  • 1999: Graphic and Industrial design for C.M.L. (Lisbon Municipality), G.E.O department (cabinet of studies about the city of Lisbon).

  • 1999: Photography, microfilming, negative and diapositive editing of Museu da Cidade assets (Lisbon City Museum).

  • 1998: Special Equipment Design for blind children and for individuals with chronic non-progressive encephalopathy.

  • 1998: Furniture design projects focusing on the utilization of MDF (medium-density fibreboard).

  • 1998: Co-founder of HomoLudens Design, Lisbon.

  • 1997: Bionics-Plant Inspired Design, personal biomimetic design project. Concept, development (morphology studies / stage data models/ new system) and prototype.

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AWARDS

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Artwork of the Year 2009 by THE SURREAL ARTS CLUB.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PRESS FEATURES

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BOOKS

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2014: 70 Cavaquinhos 70 Artistas. Publisher: Associação Cultural Museu Cavaquinho.

ISBN: 978-989-20-5175-8.

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2011: Altered Images - New Visionaries in 21st Century Photography. Author: RomanyWG, UK. ISBN-978-1-908211-00-2.

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2010: Imagine The Imagination - New Visions Of Surrealism. Publisher: Negoist, Poland, in cooperation with Abnormals Gallery, Germany. ISBN: 978-83-927078-2-0.

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2010: Visionary Art Yearbook 2010-2011. Edited by Otto Rapp.

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PRESS FEATURES

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2020: Revista Lusitânia - O Rock e o Metal Português, issue 1, feature. DL: 471315/20.

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2014: Terra Obscura, issue 3, interview. Magazine. Publisher: Terra Obscura Organisation, Spokane, WA, U.S.A.

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2010: Revista A, Arte Luxo Colecção, issue 1, portfolio and exhibition highlight (pages 87 to 97). Magazine. Publisher: Manuel Carmo Foundation. ISSN: 67/2010.

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2009: DP - Digital Photographer, issue 15, article (pg.44 to 45). Magazine. ERC: 125381 DL: 273786/08.

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2009: DP - Digital Photographer, issue 9, highlight (pg.33). Magazine. ERC: 125381 DL: 273786/08.

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2009: Jornal Público, issue 6890, year 19, article (pg.4 to 5). Newspaper. ICS: 114410 DL: 45458/91.

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2009: Diário de Notícias, issue 51083, year 145, article (pg.27). Newspaper. ISSN: 0870-1954 DL: 121052/98.

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2007: Jornal de Notícias, issue 162, year 120, article (pg.34). Newspaper. ISSN: 0870-2020 DL: 121031/2004.

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2007: Future Art Magazine, paper edition, issue 1, article (pg.10 to 11).

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2007: Boletim Municipal do Seixal, issue 431, year 15, article (pg.18). Newspaper. ISSN: 0871-3294 DL: 17113/87.

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PARTICIPATIONS/FEATURES

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2009: Carnival of Darkness 1 - Horror Short Film Festival, Los Angeles, U.S.A.

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LECTURES GIVEN

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2017: Projecto 33, lecture. Casa da Cultura, Setúbal, Portugal.

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2012: À Conversa com Paula Rosa, lecture. Almada City Museum, Almada, Portugal.

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2008: The Nordic Cinema - Complete Historic Profile. Oral presentation, written report and review. ULHT, Lisbon, Portugal.

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2007: Digital Art - Practice and Vision. Contemporary Arts subject. ULHT, Lisbon, Portugal.

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2007: New Digital Media in Art, lecture and workshop. Water Museum, Coimbra, Portugal.

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AUCTIONS

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2016: #jesuisparisArtauction, Mairie du 11ème, Paris, France.

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Selected Exhibitions

 

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SOLO EXHIBITIONS

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2022: PERPETUUM MOBILE,  Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2021: WOMEN AND ARTISTS! The ONE Museum.

2020: O FLUXO E A TRANSITORIEDADE, Oficinas de Formação e Animação Cultural, Aljustrel. PT.

2018: RETROSPECTIVA, Instituto Politécnico, Setúbal, Portugal.

2018: BUTTERFLY DEFECT, Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2016: NÓS-NÓMADAS, Teatro-Estúdio António Assunção, Almada, Portugal.

2012: NA PAREDE, Forum Romeu Correia, Almada, Portugal.

2010: FICTIONS OF THE INTERLUDE, Manuel Carmo Foundation, New York.

2007: NEW DIGITAL MEDIA IN ART, Coimbra Water Museum, Portugal.

2006: MOUSE IT!, FCT Pavillion, Seixal, Portugal.

2005: SURREALIZAR POR AQUI, Camara Lisboa Club, Lisbon.

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS

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2024: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Royal Building of Mafra, Mafra, Portugal.

2023: 3652, Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2023: TIMELINE, Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2022: LIBRARY, Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2022: EXPO. COMEMORATIVA 15 ANOS, Oficinas de Formação e Animação Cultural, Aljustrel, PT.

2021: APOCRYPHU, Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2021: O MURO (Catálogo-Exposição), Oficina de Cultura, Almada, Portugal.

2021: ARCOZ'ARTE, Casa das Artes, Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal.

2021: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Cae, Figueira da Foz, Portugal.

2020: DILEMA, Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2019: MERC'ART 2019, Lx Factory, Lisbon, Portugal.

2019: DIA D, Espaço Exibicionista Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.

2018: MERC'ART 2018, Lx Factory, Lisbon, Portugal..

2018: CIDADÃO EXEMPLAR, Oficina de Cultura, Almada, Portugal.

2016: #jesuisparisArtauction, Mairie du 11ème, Paris, France.
2016: SURREALISM-Zagreb, Paris, Lisbon, Coimbra, Recordatório Rainha Sta Isabel, Coimbra.
2016: ARCOZ’ARTE, Casa das Artes de Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal
2016: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Teatro Baltazar Dias, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
2016: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Cineteatro António Lamoso, Sta Maria da Feira, Portugal.
2016: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Partícula Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
2016: ART&PASSION, Fellini Gallery, Berlin, Germany.
2016: LUSO-AMERICAN SURREALISM, C.W. Depot Art Gallery, Mississippi, U.S.A.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Montreux Art Gallery, Montreux, Switzerland.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Casa do Sal, Castro Marim, Portugal.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Sala Gótica, Paços do Concelho, Barcelos, Portugal.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Palácio Vila Flor, Guimarães, Portugal.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Museu do Traje, Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
2015: ESPACE ART SHOP, Dorothy's Gallery, Paris, France.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Sala da Cidade, Coimbra, Portugal.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Theatro Circo, Braga, Portugal.
2015: SURREALISM NOW, Museu da Cidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
2015: MY PLANET I LOVE YOU, Dorothy's Gallery, Paris, France.
2015: INTERNATIONAL SURREALIST MASTERS, Magicraftsman Studio, Washington, U.S.A.
2015: CREATION CONTEMPORAINE, Dorothy's Gallery, Paris, France.

2015: LES MAÎTRES DU NOIR ET BLANC, Dorothy's Gallery, Paris, France.
2015: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Theatro Circo, Braga, Portugal.
2014: 70 CAVAQUINHOS 70 ARTISTAS, Jeronimos Monastery, Lisbon, Portugal.
2014: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Lousã Palace, Lousã, Portugal.
2014: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Medieval Palace of Ega, Condeixa-a-Nova, Portugal.
2014: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Galeria Vieira Portuense, Porto, Portugal.
2014: 21st CENTURY SURREALISM, LuminArte Gallery, Dallas, U.S.A.
2014: ARTISTES DE L‘IMAGINAIRE, Dorothys Gallery, Paris, France.
2014: MELTING POT, Dorothy's Gallery, Paris, France.
2014: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Casa Roque Gameiro, Amadora, Lisbon.
2013: 21st CENTURY PORTUGUESE SURREALISM, Fellini Gallery, Berlin, Germany.
2013: 21st CENTURY PORTUGUESE SURREALISM, Casa de Cultura Jaime Lobo e Silva, Ericeira.
2012: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Casa de Cultura de Setúbal.
2012: INTERNATIONAL SURREALISM NOW, Museu Monográfico de Conímbriga, Portugal.
2012: CONFRONTATIONS, Dorothy's Gallery, Paris, France.
2012: HÉRITAGES SURRÉALISTES, Dorothy's Gallery, Paris, France.
2012: SURREALISMO IBERO-RUSO, Galeria Emma, Madrid, Spain.
2012: FIARTE 2012, Centro Municipal de Cultura, Granada, Spain.
2012: SURREALISMO PORTUGUÊS, Museu Moinho das Lapas, Cernache, Portugal.
2012: SURREALISMO PORTUGUÊS, Quintal da Fonte, Ançã, Cantanhede, Portugal.
2011: SURREALISMO PORTUGAL-ARGENTINA, Recordatório Rainha Sta Isabel, Coimbra, PT.
2011: A EVOLUÇÃO DE DARWIN, Casa Andresen, Botanic Garden, Porto, Portugal..
2010: DARWIN'S EVOLUTION, European Foundation Centre, Brussels, Belgium.
2010: LA EVOLUCIÓN DE DARWIN, Parque De Las Ciencias, Granada, Spain.
2009: LA EVOLUCIÓN DE DARWIN, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain.
2009: A EVOLUÇÃO DE DARWIN, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal.

exhibitions
Paula Rosa Art

Statement

"Through my painting, I like to tell timeless stories, in which action develops in different and often absurd tenses. A chaotic stop-motion sequence, in which frames range from the ancestral concerns to the cataclysm of modern societies, on what seems to be the verge of a self-induced apocalypse. Although, the future, as in any unfinished story, is nothing but a prominent question mark.

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I‘ve always been fascinated by the human mind, and consequently by the broad and diverse fields of Philosophy and Psychology, which inevitably reflect in my work.

Humans certainly live in a very complex and exhausting condition, inhabiting a world of strange and sometimes conflicting systems - an often inhospitable environment.

 

In this context, Art for me has been a process and a privileged source for self-knowledge. My artwork raises questions, reveals and portrays crystallized fragments of thought.  Once I grasp whatever tools suit my intention, such thoughts assume a form, in a physical or virtual support, and can then be communicated in some sort of universal language.

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I believe things shall remain as open as possible. Art is not condemned to depletion inside the artist's personal boundaries. It rather expands and beautifully transcends those limits, invading each viewer's personal sphere, becoming richer and richer. For me, this is, in fact, what makes Art truly passionate."

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Paula Rosa

statement
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Reviews | Mentions

"Paula Rosa's painting merges the tangible medium of technology with the untangible magic of imagination and dreams. Her work transports us into surreal landscapes and solitary images that stir the emotions of anyone who has ever found themselves empty, lonely or in despair. She fuses natural and mechanical constructions to explore new and recurring philosophical themes. Her images are thought-provoking and hit at the very core of emotion... in that place where dreams lie and lies torture and joy manages to creep through rocks like persistent little wild flowers."

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Julie Laurin

artist

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"The terrible fact is that the vast majority of the public is completely unaware of the incredible work, the infinite number of hours, the mastery, the meticulousness, the patience, the determination, the intelligence that it takes for an artist to produce a work of such quality as Paula Rosa's.

Many people imagine that it is easy, so effortless, because "it's made with photoshop !" — how many times do we hear such nonsense! —, that it would be a kind of subterfuge, a trick that is facile and customary, that there would be no real needed talent behind it all. But the few contemporary artists of composite-photography don't care about all this, they KNOW and are determined to advance Art and photography whatever it costs them.

But they still need a real sensitivity, an immediately recognisable artistic expression, a clear guideline, a concept, because know-how is not enough for Art, it does not make Art; but Paula Rosa possesses it all to perfection and moreover plays it with a lot of sincerity, drive and humour. To achieve her paradigm, Paula does not stop there, however, she is one of the few artists who transgress barriers with striking pleasure and ease and adds to her photography, digital painting in which she excels just as much, giving her works that very unique aspect.
When I discovered Paula Rosa's wonderful work, I didn't wait a second before asking her to join, if she wished, the group of Permanent Artists of the ONE Museum, as I considered her Art work to be absolutely fundamental, indispensable and precious for the Museum, because it fully shares all the artistic values we want to promote.

I am all the more happy that I did not hesitate, since I also discovered in her a very friendly and handsome person.

Thank you so much Paula!"

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Thierry Gulian

Curator at The ONE Museum

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"Lisbon, Portugal based artist Paula Rosa combines digital painting with photo manipulation to create surreal black and white landscapes. Most incorporate painted areas and photography, all put together in Photoshop CS4, merging technology with visions from Rosa’s imagination and dreams. Exploring psychological themes, her landscapes usually portray nudes morphing with their sterile and polluted industrial surroundings. At times, Rosa carves windows into their feet and limbs, revealing scenes from her memories that evoke feelings of despair."

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Hi-Fructose

The New Contemporary Art Magazine

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"Volutes of smoke from strange machines mixing together and in which confrontation a chest with an unreal perfection takes shape, unfinished undoubtly female androids at their birth or at their final abandon in a derelict world, surreal montages where the body is building, house, home, its skin hiding the bricks of the walls, embodiment of psychic states playing with our minds like demiurge puppeteers, fantasy interactions of the organic and the technologic in excessiveness and dehumanization."

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Incubus

artist

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"Artiste et designer, Paula Rosa immortalise à travers son oeuvre la rencontre entre la rigueur technique et le chaos intérieur de l’imaginaire. Ses photographies surréalistes en noir et blanc montrent un monde où les constructions mécaniques et industrielles aliènent la nature et l’être humain."

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"Cette artiste portugaise opère un mariage fusionnel inattendu entre les arts visuels numériques : elle mélange avec imagination et grâce la photographie numérique, le dessin, la peinture et l’aérographe dans des compositions étonnantes et troublantes qui emmènent le spectateur dans de lointains univers surréalistes. Sa plus récente série, DK, intègre toutes ces techniques dans d’harmonieuses compositions fantastiques et futuristes qui nous plongent au cœur du processus créatif, dans une véritable fusion entre les arts, grâce aux possibilités infinies données par les nouvelles technologies."

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Dorothy's Gallery

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"El cuerpo femenino es la materia prima con la que Paula Rosa compone sus estructuras y ruinas en paisajes industriales o desolados, cuerpos como enormes estatuas incrustadas de ventanas y puertas configuran surrealistas escenarios oníricos. Curiosamente los ojos, que en esos colosos se han transmutado en ventanas o balcones, cobran vida autónoma en otras composiciones. "

"The female body is the raw material used by Paula Rosa to compose her structures and ruins in industrial or desolate landscapes, bodies like huge statues inlaid with windows and doors conform surreal oniric scenarios. Curiously the eyes, that in these giants have been transmuted into windows or balconies, have an independent living in other compositions."

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Javier Fuentes

El Hurgador [Arte en la Red]

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"Du noir et blanc, un chaos post-apocalyptique, une fusion torturée entre surréalisme et art digital, l’artiste Paula Rosa projette son imagination et ses rêves absurdes dans un futur incertain où corps nus et environnement urbain ne font plus qu’un!
« J’habite dans un corps détruit, nous sommes en 2200, la vie est K.O et le ciel n’est plus que fumée industrielle », un résident de l’univers créé par l’artiste visuel portugaise Paula Rosa, pourrait tenir ces propos!
Combinaison millimétrée de peintures et de manipulations digitales sur photoshop, sa série « Black and white » contemple les bras baissés, la décadence d’une société matérialiste, où l’inconscience humaine se téléporte vers l’auto-destruction. Outre l’aspect social et psychologique, Paula Rosa nappe ses créations de magie surréaliste en noir et blanc, copiée-collée de ses rêves bizarroïdes."

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Max Rabi [JUUMAG]

Photographer & Journalist

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[on Human DK / Deviantart]

"Aren't we all in some manner or another just a veneer on a crumbling structure? Each of us puts on a brave face when we're falling apart inside, each plasters on beauty and glamour to hide the cracks. When we do fall to pieces, those around us can look at the mess we've become and see fragments of the face we showed to the world before we fell."

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SRSmith

writer

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[on Human DK / Deviantart]

"Quite impressive. It expresses modernity as it is: pollution, broken dreams, superficiality... blind minds addicted to television, and feeling safe behind the keyboard; decay of the human soul."

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Cristina Stefan

illustrator

reviews

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