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The main theme that can be identified in my work is the theme of surrealism. Following the footsteps of highly admired artists such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí and Rene Margritte; I was able to begin defining my journey as an artist. These are some of the many artists who helped guide my ideas into creating the work I did. Other themes such as contemporary social-constructionism, pop-art, abstract art and identify work hand in hand with surrealism to convey my message. My experience with social media and over-exposure to ignorant, shallow lifestyles has helped provoke the ideas behind artworks such as ‘The Beauty of Movement’, ‘Realistic Collision’, ‘Fruges’ and ‘Blushed Sequence’. My childhood, culture, identity and values have helped with the creation of artworks such as ‘Beauty … Convulsive’, ‘Parches en la Vida’ and ‘Freak Show’.
The artworks selected for the exhibition do not only represent my artistic skill, theme and ideas. They represent what the audience feels. I intend to make my audience feel discomfort. I want them to begin looking at the world from a different perspective through my artworks. The aim of my art is not to score the highest grades, be aesthetically pleasing or boring. The aim of my art is to incite feelings in people that they can take with them in life. To provide a new perspective on the world they have never seen. Teaching them the different sides of one face, the different ways the body can be presented. Advising my audience that they are not obliged to follow social construct just as I was not obliged to color inside the lines. I aim to be the voice many individuals do not have. Through this two-year art course, I have been able to understand the importance of Visual Arts in everyday life; as a form of therapy, work and/or pleasure. I hope that the audience, teachers, fellow classmates and examiners are able to understand this too and mature as people through my art; just as I matured as a person through creating it. While looking through my exhibition, consider how it makes you feel.
Exhibition Pieces
The Beauty of Movement
Oil Paint, Palette Knife, Rubber wire | 60x75 cm
This artwork embodies distortion and beauty. Following my theme of surrealism the repetition of the eyes, mouth and chin create a glitch effect which provokes discomfort for the viewer. The purpose behind the artwork is to redefine beauty standards and distort a conventionally beautiful muse. Glitch art challenges traditional oil portraits using an array of primary and secondary colours to captivate the audience as well as carry the controversial message: What truly defines beauty?
Rise
Oil Paint | 60 x 75 cm
Following Guiseppe Arcimboldo’s technique, the purpose behind creating the figure out of fruit was also to maintain an element of culture friendly art that could incorporate the purpose behind the original idea. Linking to my theme of surrealism, the use of fruits changes the aspect of reality behind the female body and the stereotypes that surround it. Using two very real elements, the combination of both portrays a strong message relevant to a handful of audiences.
Beauty will be convulsive or not at all
Colorful thread, wool, embroidery hoop | 47 cm
Following my exploration of surrealism I wanted to engage in a new medium. Traditionally, creating artworks using embroidery is common in my culture. I chose a quote by poet André Breton and applied it in the style of embroidery. The quote reflects surrealist artist’s ability to challenge the notion of traditional beauty. This artwork interconnects the purpose behind all my works. The purpose of this artwork is to represent the surrealist artist I am while making my exhibition one body of art.
Realistic Collision
Oil Paint, Cigarettes, scrunched paper, pills, dead flowers, matches, medication capsules, gum | 40x50 cm
Inspired from René Magritte's 'The Double Secret', this portrait reflects how an individual's physical delicacy does not represent what occurs within them. A crack in the face depicts the true inner insecurities and chaos. Within the split several elements can be seen including dead flowers, medication, burnt matches, old gum, put out cigarettes. Each element is symbolic in representing a delphic aspect of this individual's life. Everything around the crack of flesh is illustrated as orderly.
Parches En La Vida
Wooden canvas, oil paint, sharpie fine point pen | 68 x 100 cm
This artwork is based on using an unusual surface as a canvas and combining the traditional portrait features with surrealist designs. The artwork is inspired by David Cristobal's wooden portraits. The lines define natural features of life and growth like fingerprints. The lines in the wood are unique and represent identity. Being my first self-portrait, the aim of the artwork was to represent my ongoing growth, each line being unique and delicate in its own way just like my thoughts.
Blushed Sequence
Pink, Green, Red thread, wool, embroidery hoop | 60 cm
Redefining the meaning of masculinity; this threaded sequence focuses on creating a portrait of a man with several different shades of pink and red. Bending societal rules, combining these elements created a blur between the line that defines masculinity and femininity. Having started my art course with a distorted portrait of a woman, I found it appropriate to finish with a portrait of a man. Having mainly focused on portraits created with paint, this artwork undoubtedly challenged my skills. I was inspired by the artist Yee-Young Lee she created a piece called resurrection, talking about and if she was born again in a dream. I loved the ideas of the lotus and lake scene so I decided that could be the perfect scene for me, encountering a lotus, which represents me finding my own beauty in myself, it is why my body is mostly covered in those flowers.
Fruges
Oil Paint | 100 x 75 cm
Following Guiseppe Arcimboldo’s technique, this represents a female figure disguised by fruits and vegetables. As see in society, the nude female body is taboo in many cultures. In society bigger bodies are often neglected and labeled as un-natural. In my culture, fruits and vegetables are a gift from mother nature, necessary in life. The artwork combines body type and fruit, representing the female body as sacred and a necessity for survival; as it is the source of birth and all that is life.
Freak Show
Gouache paint, acrylic paint, sharpie fine point pen | 60 cm
Delving into new techniques, I wanted to explore the abstract side of surrealism. Inspired from Tim Burton’s gothic cartoons; I designed unpleasant, abstract and canvas, I chdistorted faces. Using a round allenged by use of space and technique, overlapping the designs to create an optical illusion. The range of bold and pastel colours used, captivate the intensity of a circus. Turning a alluring explosion of colour into a terrifying nightmare.