London-based since the mid-eighties, Antonio Dias Ribeiro was born in Portugal and has travelled extensively and worked in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Persian Gulf.
Coming from an educational and professional background in Marketing, Journalism and Translation, he fully embraced the art world in the early nineties, building up on his knowledge from previous training in glass, ceramics, and art & design during his early twenties.
Antonio has since attended courses in Interior Design, Glass, Ceramics, Mosaic, Printmaking and Enamel.
He has post graduation diplomas in Glass & Fine Art and Glass & Architecture, a Masters in Art in Architecture, and a professional diploma in Interior Design.
Taking a very personal and experimental approach, he challenges each of the materials and manipulates some of the conventional techniques, bringing to the finished piece the aesthetic advantages achieved by the properties and qualities of each material, often associated to their behaviour and transformation under controlled heat in the cases of glass and clay.
During his post graduated studies at the University of the Arts London he won the Chase | Saint Martins 2001 Award for art innovation in architectural glass, followed by other awards from London Arts Board – for glass and ceramics - and the Arts Council, for mosaic techniques.
Commended by the Omani Government for his art projects and teaching work undertaken in the Sultanate in the context of the visual arts.
In the spirit of his self-directed program of intentions Bridging the Gap: an artist’s working visit to the Sultanate of Oman, Antonio Dias Ribeiro regularly visited Oman during over three years, establishing an arts studio/centre in Muscat and getting involved with local artists and projects. Three major exhibitions have taken part at the studio/centre.
Intensive courses were organised on a regular basis, attended by people from a wide social, artistic and cultural background, from artists to interior designers, and business people to staff of PDO Petroleum Development Oman.
Lectures and Seminars included subjects such as Art in Architecture, Interior Design and Public Spaces; Marketing for Artists; Collaboration Architect | Artist; Painting: moving from canvas to glass or clay bases.
Some of his architectural and stained glass work was recently used on the setting of a series: Holby Blue, shown on the BBC.
He has successfully established himself as an independent artist focusing mainly on glass, clay, marble, stone and smalti as the predominant materials used either on their own, or combined in more complex artworks and projects which often respond to architectural space and interior design transformations.
Art Consultancy and intensive Applied Art courses in the fields of glass, ceramics and mosaic within a modern and experimental approach are offered to both the corporate and the academic markets. Intensive courses have also been conducted alongside, and as part of, some major exhibitions of Antonio’s work.
Through the definite Article Antonio’s work is often hired by corporate clients to temporarily transform their spaces. Contracts can be adjusted to suit particular needs and special arrangements, from two weeks to four months. Some of his larger pieces were recently used at two locations in the City (London).
Following the success of his intensive courses in selected areas of Glass, Clay and Mosaic | Mixed Materials, Antonio has been invited by the Oman Government’s Department for Youth Culture to create and conduct a series of intensive courses in Mosaic as Art in Architecture. These took place in Sohar, with participants from all over Oman and included a high profile final exhibition which attracted the interest of the local press, cultural institutions, and government departments
Extract from an interview:
“The use of locally available materials and acceptable alternatives that can in some situations replace the more traditional, or more expensive ones without distorting final results has been considered and strongly encouraged during this mosaic project.
The incorporation of other unconventional materials as well as alternative ways of finishing the mosaic work, such as on wood and ceramic tile was another feature of this three week intensive course. Together, we looked into ways of placing the mosaic work within an architectural and interior design context, taking into consideration several aspects and factors that can influence our creative work, and the limitations that might eventually affect our choices. These factors can be the space itself, the local environment, vernacular architecture, the particular needs or interests of the user of that space, and the dialogue the finished mosaic work is expected to establish with the viewer or user.
The sometimes difficult working relationship between artist and architect, as well as aspects linked to art in public spaces - particularly mosaic work as Art,were frequently discussed in open group sessions. The course was certainly an exciting and rewarding opportunity to all of us taking part, particularly for those wishing to achieve and develop a wider range of techniques and bringing a more experimental approach into their work”.
Artist’s statement:
“As always, my aim is to create opportunities for people to look at Art with an open and free mind, widening horizons and challenging technical or more conventional concepts, approach and capabilities when dealing with the materials and their creative expressiveness within Contemporary Design, Visual Arts, Architecture and Spatial contexts.
Develop into artworks ideas drawn from personal concerns on environmental issues, human rights and civil liberties;political ambitions that may lead into corruption; and everyday situations likely to affect many of us, either as individuals or as members of a seemingly decomposing society in a world of greed and uncontrolled development.”
