Biography

Originally from Châlons-en-Champagne, Damien Mauro aka GODDOG is an artist from urban and graphic arts. Raised in an Italian family, Damien learned at a very young age to juggle with his two cultures: the one of his origins and the one of his native country. He has always kept his sense of observation and his sensitivity towards others which is the driving force of his creativity. Self-taught artist, his passions for architecture, literature and sharing has nourished his art and his approach.

His work develops around the notion of link and fracture which are inherent questions in urban art. Indeed, urban art creates a direct link with its public: it offers itself without filter in the street, in the eyes of all. The frescoes painted by GoddoG thus have the ambition to decompartmentalize the notion of art and to go beyond social fractures in order to reach those for whom art remains inaccessible. The notion of exchange and dialogue appear clearly in some of his works that evoke pictograms. This plastic work on the letter is part of the heritage of graffiti artists from and Brazilian pixaçaos. In GoddoG the letter loses all its meaning and becomes symbolic in an attempt to approach a universal language.

The link and the fracture are equally present in his works on canvas: his continuous lines bring unity while cutting the surface. Thus various figurative elements are drawn in the abstract work: symbols, faces, landscapes. His particular constructions which are played out on several levels plunge us into a poetic and dreamlike world which, nourished by a palette in pastel tones, exudes a soft harmony. The intention of the artist is to bring us to the appeasement of the spirit and to the interaction towards others. His works are an invitation to escape and to travel in his universe so singular that echoes in each one of us.