Jônatas Chimen, or simply “Jônatas,” is a Brazilian-American Symbolist artist, author, academic, and public speaker. His work explores personal and collective identity amidst an ever-changing cultural landscape. The artist’s exploration of identity is often drawn from his own family’s history of migration, adaptation, and cultural hybridization.
Jônatas’ art is process-based, ranging in technique from traditional Spanish Realism to multimedia approaches in 2D, 3D, and Time-Based formats. Jônatas often makes use of pastiches of immigration documents, DNA exams, Inquisitional archives, and personal diaries. Overall, his message of embracing one’s cultural identity and disclosing personal beliefs is a recurring theme in his art.
For the past 18 years Jônatas has been featured at biennials, museums, art galleries, and art auctions. Jônatas holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies from The University of Madison-Wisconsin, and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Florida International University. Jônatas is the founder of Jada Art Movement.
Shortened CV:
Books
2018 – The Innerverse. Immersive Art Miami. Print.
2016 – In Thy Tent I Dwell – An Immigrant’s Home: From the Spanish Inquisition to Today. Published by Immersive Art Miami. Print.
2012 – El Libro Rojo. Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Print.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
2018 — Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, Pirkei Avot and In Thy Tent I Dwell. Protocols Journal Issue #4. Digital & Print.
2015 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, Understanding the Artistic Language of Conversos. JOSPIC-J, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Print.
2014 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, The Spanish Law of Return: Between Traumas and Wonders. JOSPIC-J, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International. Print.
2013 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, A Look into the Early History of the Sephardic Masonic Heritage. JOSPIC-J, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International. Print.
2012 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, The Life and Death of a Marrano Dramatist from Colonial Brazil. JOSPIC-J, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International. Print.
2011 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, Past and Present Reflections of the Sephardic Experience in the Caribbean. JOSPIC-J, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International. Print.
2010 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, An Insight on How Artists May Achieve Financial Sustainability and Actively Participate in Society.Undergraduate Symposium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Print.
2010 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, Returnees in Brazil in 2009-2010. JOSPIC-J, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International. Print.
Review Articles
2010 – Jonatas Chimen Dias DaSilva-Benayon, Book Review on Discovering Your Sephardic Ancestors and Their World, by Jeffrey Malka. JOSPIC-J, School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International. Print.
Research Experience
2018 – Co-Editor of JOSPIC-J Research Journal. Professor Dr. Abraham Lavender. Florida International University.
2010 – 2017 – Research Journal Assistant of JOSPIC-J. Professor Dr. Abraham Lavender. Florida International University.
2010 – Research Assistant. Professor Leslie Nelson. University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Grants and Fellowships
2012 – 2013 – Jonathan Symon Fellowship, Florida International University
2009 – 2010 – Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa, Broward Community College
Awards
2015 – Artist of the Year, Anti-Defamation League
Guest Lecturer
2020 – “Critiques” Master of Fine Arts Department. Claremont Graduate University. Claremont, California, USA. February
2020 – “In Thy Tent I Dwell” Chicano Latino Student Affairs. Claremont College. Claremont, California, USA. February
2018 – “A Paradigm Shift Through Art” at the Visual Arts Press Awards. Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. June.
2018 – “Stream of Consciousness Action Drawing.” Kspace. Aventura, Florida, USA. May
2018 – “A Hidden Heritage.” Rimon Art Salon. Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. April
2018 – “The Metanarratives of Jonatas Chimen.” Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. April
2018 – “Talk on In Thy Tent I Dwell.” The Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center. Tucson, Arizona, USA. April.
2018 – “Returning Home.” Tess Hyams Museum. Roslyn Heights, New Jersey, USA. March
2018 – “The Travelling Paper.” Kulanu Artist-in-Residence. Newark, New York, USA. February.
2018 – “Art Talk.” The Art Museum of Temple Emeth. Teaneck, New Jersey, USA. June.
2018 – “The Innerverse Book Release Talk.” Emanu-El Exhibit. Staten Island, New York, USA. January.
2018 – “Lecture on the Paper Collection.” Harriet Bograd Residence. Manhattan, New York, USA. January.
2018 – “The Monotype Collage Collection.” Kulanu Artist & Scholar-in-Residence. South Orange, New Jersey, USA. January.
2017 – “The Artistic Language of Crypto-Jews”. Conney Conference. University of Wisconsin-Madison. April.
2016 – “Dum Spiro Spero (While I Breath I Hope).” The School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University. Miami, Florida, USA. April.
2015 – “Dispelling Narratives” Emanu-El Exhibit. Miami Beach, Florida. USA. February.
2015 – “Identity Narrative: Displacement, Memory, and Legacy.” Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies. Miami, Florida, USA. June
2015 – “The Journey.” The Anti-Defamation League. Boynton Beach, Florida, USA. October.
2011 – “The Lost Sephardim and Their Return.” Olin Sang Rui Institute. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, USA. June.
Panels Organized
2018 – “Inside Out.” United Nations Headquarters. New York City, New York, USA. April.
2016 – “Why the Rapid Increase of Interest on the Sephardim?” JMOF at Florida International University. Miami Beach, Florida, USA. April.
2012 – “Enrique’s Journey (book by Sonia Nasario).” University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
2007 – “The Return.” Conference at Shaarei Shalom. Boynton Beach, Florida, USA.
2004 – “Black and Brown College Bound.” Broward College. Tampa Convention Center. Tampa, Florida, USA.
Solo Art Exhibits (2017-current)
2020, Installation, In Thy Tent I Dwell 15th Manifestation, Claremont College, Claremont, California, USA
2018, Installation, 5 Madonnas in Exile (or, The Refugee Cathedral of the Ascending Bull, Broward College, Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA
2018, Performance, Stream of Conscience Action Drawing, Kspace Exhibit Space, Aventura, Florida, USA
2018, Installation, In Thy Tent I Dwell 14th Manifestation, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
2018, Two-Dimensional, The Collage Collection, The Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA
2018, Installation, In Thy Tent I Dwell 13th Manifestation, Tess Hyams Museum, Roslyn Heights, New Jersey, New York, USA
2018, The Traveling Paper Collection, Newark, New York, USA
2018, Installation, In Thy Tent I Dwell 12th Manifestation, Emeth Art Museum, Teaneck, New Jersey, USA
2018, The Paper Collection, Harriet Bograd Art Space, Manhattan, New York, USA
2018, The Monotype Collage Collection, Kulanu Exhibit, South Orange, New Jersey, USA
2017, The Baba Yaga Collection, Osme Space Miami Art Week, Wynwood Miami, Florida, USA
