BYZANTINE DREAMS
2020-PRESENT
Artist Statement: “I’m interested in fleeting moments. These moments sometimes end up having more meaning than initially thought. Life is in flux, never static; there always exists a process of change. In “Byzantine Dreams”, the subjects are isolated in a space that is devoid of life. They're frozen in a tranquil state yet prepared to leap into existence with reckless abandon at any moment. This tension is what I attempt to capture in my painting, a subtle edginess, an underlying tension, especially in figurative work. If change is inevitable, then things could go awry at any moment. The ephemeral moments in between always seem to linger, but there is contentment in these moments, waiting to be discovered all the time.”
EXHIBITION INFORMATION
All work in this series was exhibited in the group exhibition, Resurgence, curated by Rubio, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, March 26, 2021 - August 12, 2021, San Antonio, TX
Sudden Anamnesis
Artist Statement: “The work in this series is part of a larger body of work titled, “Byzantine Dreams.” Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, I revisited a book by American science fiction writer, Philip K. Dick, titled “VALIS.” In this story, the protagonist struggles with substantiating his own reality. Compounding his anxiety, his close friend’s struggles with illness, drug addiction, and religious and philosophical beliefs become his own. At one point in the story, the writer (he’s a science fiction writer in the story too!) claims that in a flash, he's is exposed to a true reality that exists within the present one. The curtains are drawn back for a brief moment and suddenly, he realizes that his present reality is actually an illusion, a form of control. At various points in the story, he refers to this as the Black Iron Prison.”
Please scroll to the bottom of this page to continue reading this statement.
EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Layers 02 was exhibited in the group exhibition, I Wonder If We’ll Even Remember We Came Here, at FL!GHT, March 3-31, 2023, San Antonio, TX
Layers 03 was exhibited as part of the Red Dot, benefiting The Contemporary at Blue Star, November 11, 2022-January 8, 2023, San Antonio, TX
My Two Windows (Dusk & Dawn) and Layers (01-04) were exhibited in the 2022 Contemporary Art Month Perennial exhibition, Interior Realities, curated by Lauren Cross, Southwest School of Art, March 5-April 6 2022, San Antonio, TX
Interested in purchasing work from this series? Contact the artist for pricing information.
Sudden Anamnesis 2 was exhibited in the group exhibition, While You Can Still Smell ‘Em, curated by Edward Perez (a/s/l), at Not For You Gallery, March 4-19 2022, San Antonio, TX
Sudden Anamnesis 3 was exhibited at Blue Star Red Dot, benefiting Blue Star Contemporary, October 7, 2021-January 9, 2022, San Antonio, TX
Sudden Anamnesis 1 (June 1-17, 2021) and Sudden Anamnesis, Layers 05 (May 26 - June 9, 2022) were both included in the virtual auction, Small Scale, Big Change, benefiting SAY Sí, San Antonio, TX
From the Depths of Nathan’s Despair
Work from this series was created digitally for web viewing, printed publication, and limited edition archival printing.
Applications: Sketchbook by Autodesk, Procreate, and Go Daddy Studio (formerly Over)
Hardware: iPad (6th Gen), Apple Pencil (1st Gen), iPad Pro (12.9 inch) (5th Gen), Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)
Some work from this series is available for purchase. Visit the store soon for more details.
Sudden Anamneses, Artist Statment cont’d: “What resonated with me in this story was the overwhelming sense of loss and paranoia that various systems of control are in constant motion and actively working against you. What is really behind this despair, and how do we heal together when so many feel isolated? With the loss of my parents within a three-year span, I forced myself to really try and understand my own grief. I questioned how I carried myself in public, at work, and with family. How much do I share with others? How much do they really care?
The subjects of this work are composed of fragments of multiple subjects who's “identities” I purchased from the website, generatedphotos.com. In this era of deep fakes, A.I., and machine learning, these sites generate portraits that New York Times writers, Kashmir Hill and Jeremy White referred to as beings that were “born from the mind of a computer.” Just how invested are we in what is real?
I'm reminded of what I appreciate about the abstract work of the 1940s and 50s, the works’s materiality. What you see is what you get. You can only infer so much meaning from the technical decisions employed by the artist (composition, color palette, medium, scale, etc.), and artwork titles and statements might also influence understanding of the work, but ultimately it's up to the viewer to develop their own interpretation.”
Interested in owning work from this series?
Some work may still be available for purchase.
Visit the store soon for more details on available paintings and prints, including image size/resolution and pricing.
Questions? Contact gabriel@babygibo.com.