The illustrator uses multiple artistic techniques to capture the essence of great icons of culture
Diario Las Américas, 23 de enero de 2017 – 21:01 – Por GEYSELL CISNEROS
MIAMI.- The Venezuelan cartoonist and plastic artist Carlos Apitz presents this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Adelmo New Pop Gallery, an interesting exhibition that, through powerful graphic elements, covers art from a unique perspective.
DIARIO LAS AMÉRICAS spoke with the also illustrator to learn more about this project, in which he mixes images of characters and places from his country with some icons of American culture, specifical artists from the golden age of the seventh art.
What inspired him to create these pieces?
The reasons to inspire me are diverse. In the portraits, I like the icons of the cinema of the 50s, but I don’t try to portray them, I like their expressions in photos of the time. I try to present Marilyn Monroe, who is an icon of American pop culture, through the use of mixed media such as digital or intervened prints. I try to capture the glamor of her sexuality, and the mystery of her. On the other hand, Los Avilas Caraqueños are a reflection of nostalgia for my hometown: Caracas. But I try to express it with happy, vivid colors and at different times and times of the day.
What was the reason for your selection?
I made a selection of 18 pieces, it is a small but very attractive sample that summarizes my work of almost two years experimenting with this style.
How was the creative process?
These works were carried out in a period between January 2015 and January 2017. Time is something relative in each work. I can dedicate weeks or months to a single work. Searching for and choosing the photos, digitally altering them, printing them to intervene, or using them as a reference to paint them on canvas or on objects (boxes and plates), requires many hours of work.
What is new in this exhibition?
These works have several interesting things, among them, common objects such as boxes and clay dishes. Landscapes and portraits with very strong graphic elements. Also the way of seeing the landscape, pop art is about icons, elements, and objects, but never about the landscape. In this case, I turn the landscape in Ávila into an icon of our memory or culture and I work on it in a very peculiar style that has not been seen in Venezuela or Miami.
What strikes you about New Pop?
New Pop tries to use modern techniques of artistic expression or reproduction, digital retouching, printing, and intervening with common objects, and that attracts me a lot. Another thing I like is being able to use figures or icons in a more striking style with strong graphic elements.
What does it mean to be able to exhibit your work internationally?
It is a unique opportunity to make my work known to a diverse audience.
The Adelmo Gallery is located at 1165 SW Six Street, Miami 33130. For more information, call 305 549 7200.
