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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

"CROSSFIRE" by Cande Aguilar



"This is what I felt when I first saw Bustinza's work..." Cande

"I have always felt in order to understand the work you need to understand the artist and his background, which was the reason for several interviews that included questions like, child hood and character " gt
For me its been exciting seeing the work of Cande Aguilar grow in size and in numbers, but also his professional presentation as artist as well. I think his work has grown but only at the same speed as local interest in the arts, which I think has grown within the last 12 years and spread like wild fire, from Amigos Artistas, new BMFA Museum Building, Mcallen Art Walk and Galleries..not to forget Corpus and San Antonio...all of which have become venues for his work.
Who doesn't want to see a another Brownsville native succeed, Cande who was born in Brownsville and background includes a transition from accordion musician to painter. Cande's work has also been noted for his previous 02 "BARRIO POP" style. Jeniffer Cahn :Curator of the BMFA who opened the doors to his first and most important one man show :"vivo mas", a show which possibly shocked the art community. I did think the largest scale work changed into more of a surrealist style which I thought was influential of Ray Smith former show at the BMFA..
But going back to this painting , which is typical o Candes medium size work, florescent pinks, blacks scribblings, blues which always seem to create the space dimension in his work, tans and orange, I think typical of his pallet, which has remain consistent and reason why his work is recognizable.., I think the tittle which is "crossfire" which is in my thoughts a battle between two entities, being that he is reflecting the work of Bustinza another abstract expressionist, there is a link and recognition , almost a territorial feeling that both are much alike..
Perhaps regionally/locally speaking there is not many abstract expressionist similar to the work of Cande, with the accepting of Jesus de la Rosa who backs his abstract with complex logic, but nationally and historically a style that has been typically repeated. Cande's work can be said to have only emerged, if we were to say this is the hight of his carreer, we would be shorting it for he is still young with a life time of work to produce.. I don't think critics should be quick to judge yet but support a painter that is pushing the limits and remaining true to his work.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Then you did not learn anything and it shows.

Mauricio Saenz said...

I think he's just talking about a feeling and not a possible influence he got from Bustinza

The Art of Brownsville said...

GT : Mauricio what type of feeling can you describe by looking at this painting ?

Mauricio Saenz said...

I get the impression that there's two opposite sides in the picture plane, the red and blue tonalities that pop out immediately, against the less distracting background. However, they seem to fit with each other to create a well-balanced composition geared towards giving you a feeling of transgression with those dark-toned agressive brushtrokes in the top part of the artwork. It's kind of weird but sometimes I feel that my heartbeats speed up with certain works where color and the dynamics of the movement put into a work tend to give you the feeling there is something extraordinary going on within the piece. My feelings range with different kinds of work, among them arousal, excitement, despair, awe, confusion, awareness, reflection, etc., but it is definitely worth the experience getting a reaction from them. Art without this kind of characteristic might as well be put aside and leave it to decorate a living room. There is a huge difference between crafts and art; a painting doesn't necessarily have to be considered art, and that's exactly where people are mislead and being blindfolded. Art loses its essence when this happens and at the same time all the intellectual and creative processes an artist puts into his or her work is diminished when the viewer sees this kind of work hung right next to a nice, boring, inoffensive painting without any substance. This is where the viewer is being wrongly educated into considering anything they see in a gallery or museum "art".

Anonymous said...

I see a repetition or regurgitation of what has already been done by most who paint and this is really tiring to see again and again. Mr. Aguilar is a perfect example of borrowing the best of artist’s work and this shows in his “this is what I….”. Petty colors out of the tube always look good. There is no attempt or understanding of color here except for the signature which pulls the red out. Mr. Saenz contradicts himself in his analysis.
There is a huge difference between crafts and art; a painting doesn't necessarily have to be considered art, and that's exactly where people are mislead and being blindfolded. Art loses its essence when this happens and at the same time all the intellectual and creative processes an artist puts into his or her work is diminished when the viewer sees this kind of work hung right next to a nice, boring, inoffensive painting without any substance. This is where the viewer is being wrongly educated into considering anything they see in a gallery or museum "art".
So what is your point? It is either art or it isn’t. Who gets to define art? It is all art or none of it is. A boring, decorative commercial piece of crab can also be art. As an educated man and art teacher Mr. Saenz should know this. Remember, how the arts are categorized …

Mauricio Saenz said...

I think I made my point clear. As the art teacher and educated man I try to be I have my own perception of what art is and try not to follow everything a dictionary, a book, or art intellectuals say, but my own instinct. A commercial piece of crap is a commercial piece of crap and nothing else. Art has to involve intellectual maturity, skill, content, authenticity, and that unique essence and magnetism that will be capable of evoking emotions and reflection. This sets ART apart from a random image done on paper, canvas, etc. There is no contradiction in my analysis on Cande's piece either, it is only my view and it doesn't have to be similar to yours. People are entitled to state their opinions but not to attempt proving people wrong just for the sake of it. I think words are meant to be used wisely.

Anonymous said...

As MASTER RUFINO TAMAYO once said: "PAINTING IS HARD........WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO."

Anonymous said...

Most of Rufino Tamayo's art works took beetween two months to two years of execution. Not two minutes!

Anonymous said...

That is not true; some of his work was fast and very delivered. Like most of his time , he had a variety of works in progress which could give the impression that they took that long. His murals did take long but his easel paintings did not. Tamayo was a master in all sense of the word. He understood the painting process which stemmed out of his interest in both drawing and graphics. His love of his culture especially the primitive element of it was pivotal to his way of painting. What this means is that unlike his contemporaries, he did not follow the out dated European painting techniques which allowed him to work more aggressively and which made him very productive. He to a point reflected contemporary art and his time in NY and Paris gave him a different perspective. There is a long list of US artist who spent their time as apprentice to him in his Mexican studio and describe him as a mad man who could produce a great of artwork in a short time. He believed in hard work and there is a great deal of photographs of him with a cigarettes held by his huge hands. These hands were of a person who works and not of a person who sits and thinks. Besides, if I understand the time element in the commentary, since when is time a factor in the creation of art? Going back to Mr. Saenz, by making your last statement aren’t you still contradicting yourself again? I once heard a local artist state that art is art. Art can’t be anything else other then art if the person who created it says it is art. It was further stated that there is no such thing as good or bad art, there is just art and people’s opinions that vary as art varies. A piece of carp as you stated too can be art and yes your right to refer to it as carp is valid if you wish to refer to it as such. But at what point do we void ourselves of prejudices and just take it for what is presented to us. Referring to pretty and crafty boring inoffensive painting without any substance as crap is like referring to Pollack’s work as junk. Both are legitimate and both are part of the art world. One suffices to some as the other (Pollack) to others. Best advice I can give is to pay attention to the root of what art is; Arte, or Arti (art appreciation or art 101). Both and again I will refer to a critique I attended at UTB (Gomez), define ability, craftsmanship and the combination of both. In conclusion, you define crappy art as “pretty and crafty boring inoffensive painting without any substance” your pushing your own agenda of what you think art should be aren’t you?
bunny vs Pollack: which is the real art?

Mauricio Saenz said...

No, you're not reading right. I don't define "crappy" art as "pretty and crafty boring inoffensive painting without any substance"; I just don't consider it art. Besides, you mention the word "crap" as if I had mentioned it many times; if you read all the comments you should know that I was just using the words you or one of the many other Mr.Anonymous used in one of their comments to say that I don't consider "a commercial piece of crap" art. Do you think someone who does a "commercial piece of crap" be considered an artist and, therefore, have the same professional label as people as Rufino Tamayo among many others who do this with all the passion, perseverance, commitment, and brains on top of all? Art is a way of living and a demanding profession, not a hobby anyone can do. And no, I don't believe Jackson P-O-L-L-O-C-K's work to be junk or crap, nor I like it, but, if I'm not mistaken, he was the leading or one of the leading figures in the abstract expressionism movement and the new technique of action painting, which implies being authentic and defying what had been done before. I think you're changing my words and opinion to your own advantage and that's a poor, not clever way to do things. Again, I have my own perception of what art should and should not be, may be right or wrong, but I stand strongly by it. Once again, I think words are meant to be used wisely just as our brains.

Anonymous said...

By the way, Jackson Pollock was one of Rufino Tamayo's many pupils.

Anonymous said...

one word for Tamayo "PICASSO" copy cat.

Anonymous said...

Finally; You got the point, Thanks!

Anonymous said...

what point?, mr multiple personality...

Anonymous said...

Finally a good art conversation…keep it on course folks…cgg

Anonymous said...

Picasso copied Franchutte

Anonymous said...

hey there we go, Franchute's world wide influance...

Anonymous said...

One word for "PICASSO" AFRICA

Anonymous said...

Nice, and also "wife/lover -beater/abuser".

Anonymous said...

Don't forget about Dali; paranoic, depressed,and homosexual. Just like Andy Warhol and so many others.

Anonymous said...

What?, NO OOOOOh! how about all those drogadits and bisexuals and lesbians

Anonymous said...

man! you all went way off course, we are talking about art!! humans are not perfect, thank goodness for ART....

Anonymous said...

Yea, what kind of sick joke this is! telling the truth.

Anonymous said...

Who dared to mention Picasso in the same phrase as Franchutte..Franchute is the biggest poser and that's the truth... You should be ashamed of yourself.

Mario Escamilla

Anonymous said...

Fernando Botero " The Player", or "Don Juan".

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

hey anonymous

I knew it was a joke just like I know you are joke..If I looked up joke in the illustrated dictionary they would have a picture of you and all your work.

Mario Escamilla

Anonymous said...

Any feedback on the Oaxacan paintings from, do not worry Your white C.E.O. or boss won't get after You.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Just like you little mario escamilla

Anonymous said...

Stop it you guys, You all are driving me crazy and insane...Yes, I'm a pshycopath HATER, just look at all the negative comments I had written to TAOB...and I am not kidding this time again; Who cares? for Me: I'm a loner... oh! so lonely, Please feel sorry for myself, I am DEPRESSED, a LOSER, and a little VICTIM of society... so what? Who dares?...my sorry live is just a waste.

The "real" Mario Escamilla

Anonymous said...

I am a hater of bad art, bad artists, anonymous people and posers.

Mario

Anonymous said...

Hint... I"m from Brownsville, short, fat("Very Panzon") and kind of semi- bald.

Mario

Anonymous said...

Hint

I am in your dreams

M. Escamilla

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

ok you got me I'm Clark Kent

M. Escamilla

Anonymous said...

ok you got me I'm The Dark Knight

Mario

Anonymous said...

ok you got me "In My Trashcans"

Mario

Anonymous said...

...If You all know what I mean!.

Mario

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Peace, guys I gave up!

Mario(from Mario Bros.)

Art by Rosendo Sandoval - Title:"La que bailo con el diablo " contact: galloblanco03@yahoo.com

Art by Rosendo Sandoval - Title:"La que bailo con el diablo " contact: galloblanco03@yahoo.com

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