IB Visual Arts LINCOLN SCHOOL Costa Rica: ESTEBAN GARITA ROJAS IB Visual Arts Lincoln School Costa Rica 2014

CLASH by Esteban Garita Rojas

Pen on paper

COLLAGRAPHY by Esteban Garita Rojas

Collagraph

EGGS by Esteban Garita Rojas

Acrylics on canvas

HOLOW MAN by Esteban Garita Rojas

Oil on canvas

MASQUERADE by Esteban Garita Rojas

Acrylics on canvas

MUSHU (1) by Esteban Garita Rojas

Mixed Media

POV by Esteban Garita Rojas

Acrylics on canvas

PUPPET MASTERS by Esteban Garita Rojas

Acrylics on canvas

THE COUPLE by Esteban Garita Rojas

Watercolors and charcoal on watercolor paper

TONGUES by Esteban Garita Rojas

Acrylics on canvas

UNTAMED by Esteban Garita Rojas

Watercolor and india ink on watercolor paper

ANGUSTIA by Esteban Garita Rojas

Acrylics on canvas

The Artist Statement

Esteban Garita

I decided to join the IB-Visual Arts course in order to exploit my artistic abilities. My eagerness towards art began when I was about 10 years old, when I saw my grandmother paint huge paintings, usually oils on canvas. So since then I have always enjoyed art, not only plastic arts, but also music, writing, and all kinds of art.

My projects started off as really conservative and shy. I was scared to create something on a blank space that looked so clean; I was scared to ruin it. After several tries and some failures, I started to loosen myself and enjoy more and more the drawing and painting techniques. I started with watercolors, which seemed a great media since they could get mixed up and create multiple transparent layers of different colors without me worrying. As I kept investigating I started using a diversity of medias, such as charcoal, oils, acrylics, graphite, inks, and printmaking. With the proper research and experimentation I became more versatile and risk taker when creating a new piece.

For my works I found inspiration in the abstract movements. For example, one of the ones that inspired me the most was expressionism, most specifically the German artist Emil Nolde. Through the colors and brushstrokes I intended on transmitting a critic towards a phenomenon of society I believe is incorrect. For example, my works “Masquerade” and “POV” expose how people tend to use masks or multiple faces to conceal who they really are in order to fit the strict norms established by society. Furthermore, I also focused on criticizing aspects such as racism, sexism, religious oppression, or even superficiality.