RENATO ESQUIVEL

The work I am presenting here is the result of my research into Language on Painting, in which three elements can be distinguished: the application of the concept of deconstruction to the Language on Painting, the use of appropriation as a strategy, and a re-evaluation of Art History. This, consequently, has repercussions on each of the three dimensions of Painting: the technique, the aesthetics, and the formal aspect.

Regarding technique, my work exhibits the confrontation of two very different constructive systems: chiaroscuro, referring to painting by layers, and bold color, painting directly onto the canvas with a mix of colors.

Concerning aesthetics, my work proposes a re-evaluation of Art History to manifest the arbitrariness of certain concepts in Art that are pretended to be universal like authorship, originality, and the aura of the work of Art, and thus to undermine its own authority. Although these ideas were largely discussed by postmodern thinkers they still persist in today’s Art.

And lastly the formal aspect shows spaces within spaces, shapes within shapes. Different binary oppositions are also shown like: bidimension-tridimension, figurative-abstract. All of this merge together to suggest concepts more than describing objects.

In my work there are many hidden messages that allow the spectator to play, discover, look, and imagine some of the mysteries of Painting. My work tries to retrieve Painting and its visuality with matter and the pictorial substance to the Art scene.

Renato Esquivel PhD Spring 2019.