The discovery of the soul
Paraguay and the art of Mendoza

Make the earth yours, says the god of the Christs.
The Guarani say: “Honour and protect every being, humans, animals or plants.”

Since ever the natives of Paraguay live in a nature, which is a biotope and spiritual world at the same time. They don’t want to rule the nature, not to dispirit -the Guarani see themselves as a part of it.

Mendoza discovered the soul of art in the spiritual floated world of the Guarani in Paraguay. His works are guardians of a culture, which want to hold their tradition and their believe in the shadow of the Christian civilisation.

Joerg Quecke alias "Mendoza" was born in 1958 in Düsseldorf.
It was a long way until he discovered his love for Paraguay.
As learned retail salesman and joiner, he hit himself through the life in various professions. So his fascination for the wood and the unforgettable impressions come together which he gathered since 1988 during several stays in Latin America. He got a special intense relationship with Paraguay and his natives.
Joerg Quecke became Mendoza.

Mendoza’s expressive sculptures consist of wood, the material the native forests of Paraguay once have consist of. His works look earth bounded and nevertheless they are not from this world. They are like totems, especially the statues "Pareja Vieja" (1999) and "Guarani" (1989/1990).

But Mendoza does not want to imitate the Indian art.
His interpretations give a very own and timeless sound to the voice of the nation and are penetrated by the spirit of their initial culture.

Jörg Quecke

1958 born close to the old town of Düsseldorf.

School: Better notes in art and design than in spelling.

Middle of the 70´s training as retail businessman.

After that I worked in different professions:
Lorry driver, EDV-Operater, Decorator, Roofer helper, civil engineering, building construction, construction care taker, forest worker, chemistry worker, furniture restorer, mass building, ...

1980 removal from Düsseldorf to Walsrode.
Beginning of the 80´s training as joiner.

88/89 First fact-finding tour to Central America & Cuba.
89/90 Second fact-finding tour to South America.

There followed further tours to Latin America.
89/90 Start with the first works with Latin America as topic.

Since 1993 own business in inside creation, restoration of old buildings, art and design.

1996 artistical advises and design for the construction business.
I also create gates and banisters of iron, artistical designed, by mine
or your sketches.