The Artists Statement
by Marijose Rodriguez
As an artist, I have no intentions of
changing the way the viewer feels, acts or thinks about my art. However, I
believe that in order to appreciate my art, the receptor must at least
understand the intentions behind my pieces.
My
exhibit pieces are influenced by the human condition. I wanted to be illustrate
in my art, humane situations in which the essence of the human essence was
represented. To portray this, I had to render the situations that only humans
could relate to. Human beings differ from all other beings of the natural world
because of our ability to suffer not only from physical and emotional pain, but
also from cognitive defeat and spiritual despondency.
The
latter means that, until know, humans are the only species that has the
capacity to be aware of, and reflect upon, our own suffering. The human
consciousness and our response to suffering is what I consider to be humane.
So, the humane theme is demonstrated in my pieces through depictions of
situations of suffering, whether physical, emotional, cognitive or spiritual,
that humans are able to be aware of, and reflect about. The motif represented
id the existential tragedy of human suffering. My theme was an influence of the
works of Carlos Leon, whose piece revolve around the theme of human flesh.
Although suffering is not presented as an indelible aspect of human life as it
it suggested on my pieces, his use of loose brush-strokes to create contrast
and unity to represent human vulnerability to suffering through the flesh.
Because
the intention of my exhibit is to make viewers relate and feel human, I
explored techniques in which I could portray meaning literally. My exhibit does
not present conceptual or abstract art, but rather literal pieces with a deep
message behind it. The more convenient way to present situations objectively
was through 2 dimensions. Because of
this, the artworks presented are drawings or paintings.
My
pieces are not only united by the theme and two dimensions, but also by the
exaggerated contrast. In my drawings and paintings intense contrasts, created
by strong highlights vs. dark shadows and evened brush strokes, are evident. I
relied on this principle of art to convey meaning because suffering is
associated with
Charcoal
drawing was one of the techniques I used in my pieces. I decided to use
charcoal because of the evident contrast that the techniques lead to. My
artwork Vices, is an example of how the technique was used to not only present
different tonal values but also unambiguous subjects. I wanted to demonstrate
how humans are susceptible to vices because these are an escape from the
reality of suffering that the individual is aware about.
This
is the same idea transmitted on Adrenaline, through a different medium,
acrylics on canvas. The bull fighting depicted is a representation of a
cultural activity society has accepted to let individuals escape their reality
intentionally. The adrenaline that the fear of losing one’s life is enough to
consume one’s thoughts and thus become unaware of the suffering one was been
reflecting upon.
Vices
and Adrenaline demonstrate how humans become addicted to feel alive
because of the impact of suffering in their psychological state. However, all
of the other pieces present examples of the suffering itself, rather than the
effect of this. For example, Unwanted is a representation of shame and guilt,
which are emotions that once one is aware of, generates suffering and pain. Birth
demonstrates the suffering that the fear, specially of the fear of the unknown
causes, hence the crying baby.
In order to enhance the
viewers’ experience, I added the audio of a baby crying during my exhibit. This
was done so to have a major impact on the audience, while shaping the meaning
of the exhibit. The purpose of these
depictions was to have an impact on the audience, not of suffering itself but
or self-reflection about the how suffering makes us human and alive. Finally, I
wanted to present the idea that the human suffering is an existential tragedy
but humans are capable, to an extent, to accept, tolerate, fight, minimize or
enlarge suffering through the power of reflection.
Studio Work
Adrenaline by Marijose Rodriguez
Acrylics on canvas 127 x 88 cms
In this work I wanted to portray a violent act of a bullfight. I was inspired by the poetry of GarciaLorca, that depicts through Spanish traditions double moral of human beings. Bullfighting has remained a tradition although it might be considered inhumane because of the violence. However, it continues to be indebted in romanized cultures because viewers and participants of bullfights use the adrenaline they receive from the act as a means to escape their suffering.
Birth by Marijose Rodriguez
Acrylics on canvas 61x 46cm
I wanted to symbolically portray suffering through a baby’s cry. I first thought of representing this with a cry because crying is the most natural way to show suffering. I decided to depict a baby crying while being born to show how human beings are unhappy and fearful since the moment they are born. I used a lot of contrast, to show how although the baby is fearful there is hope. The intense light source suggests that the suffering, it is not necessarily bad but something inevitable in life.
Birth by Marijose Rodriguez
Acrylics on canvas 61x 46cm (Close up)
Ecstasy by Marijose Rodriguez
Acrylics on canvas 127 x 68 cms
This piece represent the ultimate human desire. The use of sexuality to reach an excited state,
demonstrates how humans rely on sexual interactions to forget their suffering. I was inspired by
Santiago Ydañez’s portraits to paint a close up. Ydañez’s close ups have sexual connotations
without depicting grotesque erotic images. I therefore, decided to represent the sexual desire
without being obvious. I used lose brushstrokes with colorful hues to suggest the carnal activity.
Humanoid by Marijose Rodriguez
Acrylics on canvas 46 x 61 cm
Inspired by the contemporary portraits of Antony Micallef, I decided to use loose strokes and paint splatters to suggest form. I initially threw a paint splatter and decided to paint t figure based on how
the splash was directed. Once I had the structure, I there paint splatters of other colors to distort the image. The paint splashes are supposed to appear as if the man’s face is exploding, and thus represent the state in which one is so distressed that the suffering takes over one’s life.
Mourning by Marijose Rodriguez
Charcoal on paper 58 x 73 cm
This gesture drawing was done during a life- drawing session. I timed myself and limited my drawing to a 5 min drawing. I wanted to do so to only depict essential lines to suggest the form. The minimalist lines are supposed to represent how the subject is incomplete because of a loss that has caused him grief and sorrow, thus the name, Mourning. Through the lack of detail, and specially the lack of face, I wanted to make the subject impersonal to depict mourning as a human, universal, suffering.
Nostalgia by Marijose Rodriguez
Acrylics on canvas 50 x 40 cm
In this piece I wanted to represent how nostalgia can cause human suffering. I decided to depict a collection of teacups that were family heirloom. I wanted to demonstrate how people become
attached to ideas that will be lost. To portray this impermanence, I decided to use transparencies to merge the cups to the negative space. In order to unite the subjects with the negative space, I painted the dark negative space first, suggesting the figures that I would later paint.
Untitled Self-portrait by Marijose Rodriguez
Oils on canvas 36 x 46 cm
For the culmination of my exhibit, I decided to do a self portrait to demonstrate my own, personal, view on suffering. Since human suffering is associated with a cognitive failure, I
consider that reflection is the most important stage in the humane suffering process.Through reflection, when one suffers, one chooses an attitude toward the pain in order tolerate, fight, control or minimize it. Focusing this piece solely on the topic of reflection, I wanted to emphasize the importance of pondering on the effect of suffering.
Unwanted by Marijose Rodriguez
Acrylics on canvas 46 x 61 x 3 cm
I was inspired to represent a back-bone because the spinal cord is responsible for all the physical suffering humans experience. The woman’s position, and t h e n a k e d s p i n e s u g g e s t t h e
vulnerability of the woman to pain. I used intense shadows to demonstrate that the spinal cord is sticking out of her back because of there position. This position suggests guilt and shame, thus demonstrate how a woman’s regret and lack of self-worth hace made her more susceptible to suffering.
Exhibition Setting
No comments:
Post a Comment