Gonzalo Papantonakis is a highly regarded Uruguayan artist living and working in Los Angeles. On an inner call he left the finance world, moved to America and decided to live the art. He described this journey and how his life was converted:" I never liked the finances and I always liked to draw. One day I was penniless, the girl that i liked was leaving to live in the Usa and for the first time I could decide without consultation and followed her. This was 2001. There I began to paint to survive. The first seven years i lived in New York, then i moved to Los Angeles and now I am staying here."
Mixing mediums and meanings, he creates colorful images on rock and roll, drug wars and other reflections and thoughts from his childhood between Uruguay and Argentina (before traveling extensively throughout Europe and the United States) to nature and current situation. He weaves the music, written word and abstract images to create delicate cultural patchworks. Papantonakis’ innovative approach to composition and assemblage continues from that of the Neo-Dadaists*, particularly Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.
Self taught, many of his pieces are an homage created for people whom Papantonakis admires (his inspiration are from a wide range of sources, such as composers Bob Marley, U2, and Antonio Vivaldi). One of his signature techniques is the incorporation of sheet music into his canvases. Conveying a sense of rawness and fragility, Papantonakis’ works present the viewer with sound made visible. This confluence of the visual arts and music is central to his practice. Papantonakis has arduosly developed this concept, which he has named See Music. A successful attempt to incorporate music into a visual medium. From laminated music standards to crudely hand written lyrics directly on the canvas. " “Life and how music is in everything we do” he explained on how important music has been to him all his life. For him, music is an interpreter of emotion, a social beacon, and a liberator. Each piece that Mr. His intent is to show the world how music impacts his life as well as how music can be so much more that an audible sensation, it can also be a visual sensation.
The artist’s work is held in prestigious collections throughout Europe, the United States, Latin America, Australia and Asia. Papantonakis has also completed numerous site-specific works including a monumental installation at the Thompson Hotel (Thom Bar) in New York City.
/ top head paintings: top: "The creator", bottom: "The communion" /
/ "The cathedral" /
/ "Pirates and fairies" /
/ click on "Read more" to see more of Gonzalo Papantonakis /
/ "Troubled evolution" /
/ "Map" /
/ "Papan" /
/ "Cosmos" /
/ left: "Red ballerina", right: "Blue ballerina" /
/ "Beauty pack" /
/ left: "Little Rock´n´Roll queen", right: "Blowing grass" /
/" Erase - upgrade" /
/ "Ad" /
/ left: "Beauty the beast", middle: "Geisha", right: "Lotus" /
/ "Handlebars" /
/ "Made in Uruguay" /
/ "Millas flowers" /
/ left: "Sonata for viola-piano", right: "Red stripes" /
/ "Millas cat" /
/ "Me say war" /
/ top: "Racing", bottom: "The pianist anthology in b flat" /
*Neo-Dada is a minor audio and visual art movement that has similarities in method or intent to earlier Dada artwork. While it revived some of the objectives of dada, it put "emphasis on the importance of the work of art produced rather than on the concept generating the work". It is the foundation of Fluxus, Pop Art and Nouveau réalisme. Neo-Dada is exemplified by its use of modern materials, popular imagery, and absurdist contrast. It also patently denies traditional concepts of aesthetics.
No comments:
Post a Comment