Juan C. Tajes

PHOTOGRAPHY

Juan Tajes

I passed a window on the Warmoesstraat while I was thinking about my own projects. I was intrigued by the masks hanging in the window, and they caught my attention. There was a tiny light shining on a piece of paper called Microteatro with a phone number written on it.

It became apparent that he had lived and worked in the Netherlands since 1971. Juan himself is an artist who directs, acts, sings, designs and writes. Educated at the Theater School and the Art Academy in Montevideo, Uruguay, he is a professional artist in commedia dell’arte and theatrical theater, opera, operettas, and zarzuelas and is the founder/director of the Center Commedia dell’Arte Masks. The artist’s fascination began when he was a little boy, and his studio is filled with masks that he designed himself. He draws and paints, makes clothes by working with crochet, and there are photos everywhere of everything he collected to make his art. In our contact, we get to be close companions during the trips to his atelier. We were inspired to make books with photography. When we last spoke, we discussed your upcoming exposition in Amsterdam and how you were feeling very ill. Two weeks after our last contact, you unfortunately passed away.  I am really going to miss you, Juan. Thank you for your amazing friendship and all your support. Rest in peace. 1946–2024