João Cardoso

I am under surveillance

2019

If we look to his “generation Z” 1995 birth year age and consequently his background of illustration (at “the CASS” (London Metropolitan University) we better understand João Cardoso´s fast looking approach to themes and quick incisive and effective critique through straightforward form and metaphors in a rather personal characteristic style that he has been developing and forging to in the sum of all his creation/production, so far. João Cardoso´s hardworking and curiosity led him to work so far, various sizes, techniques and supports, from the traditional graphite on paper or acrylic on canvas to the use of 3D printing on some sculptures and installation pieces to NFT´s character artworks. He has been involved in some collaborative exhibitions but he also participated in projects ranging from muralism and illustration to teaching and fashion, as well as a long term relationship with MOCHE telecom, with whom he has been working as an art curator. João has also been working with other partners such as EDP, MARS and FUJITSU. He has been represented by CARRASCO gallery, since 2019. With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology, as a much needed tool to explore new means of life and solutions for the current world, also, it is responsible for extinguishing value from the human race. João believes that we are now on a big switch towards turning ourselves into mechanical figures and that actually only few of us will be valued only for our human condition. However, despite this fatalistic ideology, his work satirically predicts scenarios in a near future, and mixes it up with concepts of modern life where us humans are both the creators and bodies of study for robots to flourish. With this in mind, questions such as “The matter of love? “, “Will we need a pet to sustain our need for affection?”, “Can low battery mean being close to death?” or “Which moral values will be transported to the digital realm?” are some of the many that end up being reflected in his work through a “pop mechanical figure” named “Creature”. The main aim of João Cardoso work, besides exposing his personal concerns, is to raise awareness among humankind about our frail condition as humans but also to allow space in each persons mind to believe in the array of opportunities that technology can provide us.