Exploring human nature through figurative art
SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA / ACCESSWIRE / August 17, 2024 / Costa Rica is emerging as a country with an innovative and thought-provoking art scene. MÍRAME Fine Art, the country’s leading online gallery, is excited to spotlight a new wave of emerging Costa Rican figurative artists who are redefining the boundaries of figurative art with their unique interpretations of the human experience. https://miramefineart.com/artists/
Acrylic on canvas
The body as a medium of expression
For Lucía Howell Vargas and Roberto Murillo, the human body becomes a powerful medium for exploring identity and existence. With a background in dance and performance, Howell Vargas brings a dynamic quality to her figurative acrylic paintings. Her performances and resulting visual interpretations blur the lines between physicality and abstraction, creating immersive experiences that challenge traditional audience engagement.
Murillo’s large-scale, monochrome charcoal drawings depict bodies in entanglement and explore human relationships through chiaroscuro. Captured in moments of vulnerability and strength, his figures celebrate the raw authenticity of the human form.
The Metaphysical and the Grotesque
Pablo Mejias’ oil paintings and works on paper explore the human psyche and delve into metaphysical themes that transport the viewer to otherworldly landscapes where life and death are intertwined. His dramatic use of light and the grisaille technique highlights the human form in states of existential turmoil, with haunting depictions of fish and birds evoking an immediate sense of mortality.
Social criticism through neo-academism
Jesus Mejia views figurative art as a means of social critique. His contemporary neo-academic style, influenced by Baroque art, dramatizes social violence and inequality, with his figures often set against barren backgrounds that reflect his Catholic heritage. Mejia’s oil paintings force the viewer to confront the sociopolitical issues of modern life through stark contrasts of light and dark.
Memory, narrative and the power of images
Emmanuel Rodriguez-Chaves examines the role of images in shaping and challenging our understanding of history and memory. His collage-like oil paintings mix historical and contemporary images, questioning the reliability of visual culture and its influence on collective memory. By manipulating these images, Rodriguez-Chaves creates a dialogue about the construction of reality and positions himself as a critical voice in the discourse on art and memory.
Subversion and playfulness
Valiente Pastel and Aire Calderón give their art a unique blend of subversion and playfulness.
Using digital photography and collage, Pastel reinterprets advertising and found objects with humor and irony to address issues such as homosexuality and female empowerment. His quirky characters and bold colors challenge societal norms and encourage a reassessment of sexuality and identity.
Calderón, on the other hand, uses oil paintings to explore the human form, particularly the female body, using light and shadow to highlight curves and contours. Her work combines realism with an ethereal quality, offering a new perspective on femininity and identity.
These emerging Costa Rican figurative artists are shaping a new chapter in Costa Rican art and offering insights into the human condition.
Contact information
Belinda Seppings
Co-founder
(email protected)
+447821591397
SOURCE: MÍRAME Fine Art
View the original press release on newswire.com.
