Bio

Mr. Rodriguez was born in March 1933 in a small coal mining village in the mountains in Spain. Mr. Rodriguez became known as EL.GGoDo in 1960 in San Sebastian Spain.

EL.GGoDo's artistici skills are believed to have originated from both his father and grandfather; both skilled craftsmen with wood. Though, not much is known about their life stories or what type of people they were.

Important Life Moments

  1. 1933 in EL.GGoDo’s own words "a beautiful epic..."


  2. Between 1935 and 1947 he attends School at the same time he is tutored by Don Jose as he has advanced abilities in Mathematics and other subjects.


  3. In 1948, the family move to Bilbao where EL.GGoDo continues with his studies with another private tutor.


  4. In 1950, whilst still in Bilbao, EL.GGoDo starts to participate in his families' gourmet food business. During this time, he marries his first wife, Amita. Shortly following this they have Olga. During this time, he travels extensively in Europe.


  5. 1964 EL.GGodo leaves Bilbao. Suffers through a period of extreme financial hardship and produces one of his first great works, Viejo Verde, oil l.,146 x 116 cm, cat no. 708, 1964 [1]. This painting can be interpreted as a representation of an old women green with the envy of the surrounding youth... However, one can not be sure whether this was EL.GGoDo reflecting on an observation of another or simply a case of moralizing; the latter appears to be a constant theme in EL.GGoDo's works. Perhaps in another life, EL.GGoDo may have been a priest (though he would laugh at this suggestion)? This work and others emphasizes his love of women in all their beauty and splendour, it also shows his love for the traditional values of society; to some, this would be a contradiction. Though this contradiction, goes hand-in-hand with the complex good natured character he has as can be gathered by observing his artworks and interacting with him over the years.


  6. Between 1965 and 1968 (->75 - 78?), he painted the following great works:

      - Pastores Norte [/Pastores Cantabros], oil l., 65 x 50 cm, cat. no. 481, 1965
      - Materie Tendanse, oil l., 146 x 116 cm, cat. no. 706, 1968,
      The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow [1,2]
      - Estudiante, oil l., 73 x 60 cm, cat. no. 487, 1968
      - La Dama Ciega [/Mi Profesora de Aleman], oil, cat. no. 693, 1968

  7. In 1969 in the pursuit of cultured pearls and watches, he visits Japan, moves in distinguished circles, and has dinners with some of Japans' most influential men. During this year he paints his masterpiece, Marinero Celta, oil on canvas, 73 x 60 cm, cat79. no. 400. He also painted these great works:

      - Mujer Sentada, oil t., 38 x 46 cm, cat. no. 810, 1969
      - Bano en el rio (Picos de Europa), oil, 146 x 114 cm, cat79. no. 406, 1970
      - Maternidad, oil, 82 x 65 cm, cat79. no. 424, 1970

  8. In 1972 he falls in love with a visiting Australian ladies' tennis player, Susanna (Sue Alexander). They marry and shortly following this Alex was born and Susanna escaped with Alex to Australia... Susanna was an energetic young idealist in her early twenties well known in the social tennis set in Spain during that period. EL.GGoDo a handsome, tanned, wealthy, middle aged man with one of literally a handful of green Ford Mustang sports cars...It would have made a perfect Hollywood-styled marriage, if the laws in Spain had have been different (married once and forever) and if Susanna was more homely and less of a social person; yet another complex desire of EL.GGoDo! Though, nothing is perfect and so sadly it ended.

    During this year, and the next couple, he paints these fine works of art. Perhaps in honour of the love they shared:

      - Diana, Hungria [/..Centro Europea], oil, cat. no. 1175, 1972
      - Maternidad, oil, 73 x 60 cm, cat79. no. 415, 1973
      - Pelea Caballos, oil, 100 x 81 cm, cat79. no. 430, 1974

    Concurrently, when EL.GGoDo turned forty, he makes the momentous decision to retire from business and dedicate his life to his passion, art.

  9. In 1975 (the year of Franco’s death), he gets itchy feet and sets off again, traveling except this time to, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Honolulu and New York. He also spends some time in Africa and Russia.


  10. Between 1975 and 1983 he spent his time between his studios in the village and Madrid. In these years he painted the following great works, which could sit comfortably next to any of the great works of the world:

      - Mujer de la Mano en la Frente, oil, 55 x 46, cat79. no. 413, 1975
      - Otono Valle Veneros, oil, 60 x 73 cm, cat79. no. 204, 1976
      - Cabeza de Santon, oil, 46 x 55 cm, cat79. no. 411, 1976
      - Otono Veneros, oil l., 73 x 54 cm, cat. no. 567, 1976
      - Mujer entre Hierbas, oil l., 46 x 61 cm, cat. no. 349, 1976
      - Otono con Gallos, oil l., 60 x 53 cm, cat. no. 597, 1976
      - Desnudo de Japonesa, oil l., 65 x 92 cm, cat. no. 163, 1977
      - Caballo Roja y Negra, oil l., cat. no. 181, 1977
      - Despierta Mujer, oil, 92 x 65 cm, cat79. no. 409, 1977
      - Africa Presente, oil l., 97 x 146 cm, cat. no. 672, 1978
      - Espiritu del Universo, oil l., 146 x 114 cm, cat. no. 832, 1979
      - Sodoma, oil,146 x 114 cm, cat79. no. 429, 1980
      - Hipocresia oil l., 73 x 60 cm, cat. no. 719, 1980
      - Muerte del Amigo, oil l., 73 x 60 cm, cat. no. 749, 1980
      - Tres Culturas, oil c., 90 x 65 cm, cat. no. 510, 1980
      - Mundo Interior [/Evolution], 97 x 146 cm, cat. no. 707, 1981
      - Pastora y Tauro, oil l., 89 x 116 cm, cat. no. 703, 1981
      - Ana Karenina, oil l., 73 x 60 cm, cat. no. 608, 1981
      - Patores astur-leoneses, oil l.,146 x 114 cm, cat. no. 619, 1981
      - Activo Pasivo, oil l., 96 x 146 cm, cat. no. 709, 1982
      - El David, oil on canvas, 146 x 114 cm, cat. no. 618, 1982, Centre Pompidou [1]

  11. In 1984 father sees his son for the first time since birthii... During this time he paints this great piece:

      - Puerto de Vegarada, oil l., 146 x 114 cm, cat. no. 657, 1984

  12. Between 1985 and 1991 EL.GGoDo spent his time between his studios in Madrid and the village. Winters in Madrid and summers in the mountains. Many Spanish people follow a similar pattern - work in the city and holidays in the country. During this time he produces these fine works and publishes his first book:

      - Mujer del Puno, oil l., 60 x 81 cm, cat. no. 804, 1984
      - Toro del Ponton, oil l., 50 x 61 cm, cat. no. 1126, 1987
      - Hipocresia oil c., 45 x 65 cm, cat. no. 918, 1988,
       Stron Gallery, Los Angeles U.S.A. [3]
      - Maternidad Ocres, oil l., 73 x 92 cm, cat. no. 891, 1989
      - Goda de Leon, oil t., 61 x 92 cm, cat. no. 1121, 1990
      - Multiformas, oil l., 81 x 116 cm, cat. no. 1019, 1990

      - Book one: EL.GGoDo, EL.GGoDo Color Formas Technicas,
       Editorial Everest S. A., Carretera Leon La
       Coruna km 5, Leon, Spain, ISBN 84-241-9828-X, 1991

  13. Around 1992 he began building a new three level studio in the village with help of the village carpenter. The foundations of the new studio are that of an old barn built approximately four hundred years ago with stone. From the outside it now looks like a large more modern, though haphazardly designed barn, but from the inside it is a paradise for artists! High ceilings, natural light, polished floor boards, potted and climbing Geraniums - a favourite of the master.


  14. In 1993, nine years after the trip in 1985 EL.GGoDo sees his son for the second timeiii


  15. Between 1993 and 2000 he spent his time between the new studio in the village and his other in Chamartin, Madrid; busily painting up to seven days per week. These are just some of his great achievements during this period:

      - Book two: Cobos A., Graficas Enar S. A., EL.GGoDo, ISBN 84-86917-71-9, 1995.

    During this period he painted his supreme masterpiece:

      - Libertad, oil l., 130 x 195 cm, cat. no. 1390, 1995; this painting exudes the style unique to EL.GGoDo, a style that could be called: GGoDo Expressionism.


  16. EL.GGoDo's creativity is seemingly boundless. From 2003 to 2006 he has continued to paint extraordinary works, one noted work was that of: Ascensión, oil l., 130 x 196 cm, 2003. An inventive journalist Santos [6], wrote a newspaper article titled "Jesus pudo subir al cielo en una nave", this roughly translates to "Jesus can reach the stars in a spaceship." The painting truly is a great work which should be exhibited.


In all, EL.GGoDo has produced over one thousand works of art since 1960, many of them are great works of art, some masterpieces and a few the work of dreams.

Selected Major Exhibitions

  1. Casa Municipal de la Cultura de Alcobendas, 5 to the 30 November 1983
  2. Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid, 1 to the 15 December 1978
  3. Federacion de Asociaciones de Radio y Television (Madrid). (1978). Exposicion Nacional de Arte: . [Madrid]: Federacion de Asociaciones de Radio y Television. Web reference: http://biblioteca.artium.org/Record/69301/Description#tabnav
Mrs. Susan Rodriguez [nee: Alexander] with son Alexander, EL. GGoDo and Mr. Gilbert Alexander (d. 1987), The Queen's Club, London, 1973
Sue with son Alexander, EL.GGoDo and Gil, The Queen's Club, London, 1973
 Mr. John Alexander with nephew Alexander, The Queen's Club, London, 1973
John with nephew Alexander, The Queen's Club, London, 1973
 Mrs. and Mr. Rodriguez, Spain, circa 1973
Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, Spain, circa 1973
Matiere-Tendance, 1968
Matiere-Tendance,
1968 [1]
 Marinero Celta, 1969
Marinero Celta,
1969 [7]
 Mujer de la Mano en la Frente, 1975
Mujer de la Mano ..,
1975 [7]
El David, 1982
El David,
1982 [1]
 Puerto de Vegarada, 1984
Puerto de Vegarada,
1984 [1]
 Hipocresia, 1988
Hipocresia, 1988 [3]
EL.GGoDo posing with Libertad, c.1995 [8]
EL.GGoDo posing with Libertad, c.1995 [8]
 Ascensión, 2003
Ascensión, 2003
 Love in Mundos Tubados, 2004
Love in Mundos Tubados, 2004

References

[1] - EL.GGoDo, EL.GGoDo Color Formas Technicas, Editorial Everest S. A., Carretera Leon La
Coruna km 5, Leon, Spain, ISBN 84-241-9828-X, 1991

[2] - Freight documentation, ... [EL.GGoDO] to Museo Bellas Artes, Bolxowska 12, Muscu, Rusia, COTRANSA, R 14342706K [1996], sited by Alex Rodriguez 2006

[3] - EL.GGoDo, Valoracion de la Obra Pictorica de EL GGoDo [/cat.], 1998

[4] - Pueyo, V., Flores de El GGoDo para la Catedral [/Flores de libertad (p.48)], Diario de Leon, p.1 and p.48, 01-11-1997

[5] - Fernandez, F., EL GGoDo: Mi cuadro vivira muy a gusto en la Catedral, La Cronica 16, p.66, 01-11-1997

[6] - Santos, M. C., Jesus pudo subir al cielo en una nave, Diario de Leon, p.14, 05-10-2003

[7] - EL.GGoDo, Imagenes de la obra de EL.GGodo en cinco colecciones [/cat79], c.1979

[8] - EL.GGoDo, Valoracion de la Obra Pictorica de El GGoDo [/cat.], 1996

Footnotes

iIn fact, in the early days, the work of an artist and that of a carpenter would have been on an equal social level. However, today, the profession of an artist (though not seen as an easy career) does have an element of prestige attached to it; particularly if you are successful. Whereas, if today you are a carpenter you are seen as one step up from the unskilled labourer. We ought to recognise all talented people.

iiIn the 1984 Christmas holidays Alex visited his father for the first time since birth. Then, there was his father, Enedina and himself. Enedina he remembers was a typical Spanish, cuddly motherly figure that he thought was his kind housekeeper! There he tasted a family orientated life and wanted more! So he overstayed his three months of holidays in an illusion of paradise – He will always look back on that period as the best time he had when he was a child. He learned later, this was much to the dismay of the Alexander’s back in Australia as they thought he may not come back! Whilst there, he attended a small private school in Madrid called Hastings English School where he met his friend Leon Hunter-Boyd. With his fathers' encouragement, and to earn some extra pocket money, they both sold copper coins which celebrated EL.GGoDo’s five artistic collections. At one time they even sold some of these coins in the infamous EL Rastro flee market – they were lucky they were not picked up and sold themselves! Late in 1985, like his mother, he left Spain for Australia.

iiiDuring Christmas time in 1993 after he completed his Apprenticeship in Australia as a fitter and machinist (fitter and turner) he again visited his father and Enedina in Madrid; he stayed for three months. Whilst in Spain he toured the south of Spain and Portugal with Enedina and his father. Also, whilst there, he helped his father with his new studio project in the village; for a short period – a memorable occasion where father and son had a rare chance to work together. So the holiday was full; but a great success!

Written by Dr. Alex Rodriguez, ELGGoDo.net, Australia. Last edited 10-12-2011.