Diego
Process Portfolio
Curatorial Rationale
More about my work and experience in the IB Diploma Programme...
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Faces (March 2020)
32 x 25 cm (x3)
Faces is a series of three portraits, each comprising different outcomes and media. This piece furthers the theme of portraiture and human expressions. All three portraits detain different moods and overall outcomes. Two of them represent this darker feeling, as they play with shadows and obscure lining. As for the central one, it contradicts the other two as it represents a joyful and harmonious color scheme with the subtle addition of motifs.
Family Love (January 2021)
Acrylic on wood
56 x 37 cm
Family Love is a black and white stencil portraying my cousin. This piece develops my idea of portraying family characters. It is based on my own photograph which was modified on Photoshop simplifying the image into four distinct tonal areas. The monochrome colour scheme creates a strong yet calm effect with the three varieties of grey's overlapping with the intense black. Banksy’s, Jean-Michel Basquiat (SAMO) and Blek Le Rat’s stencil techniques influenced the work.
Motifs (February 2021)
Acrylic on wood
56 x 37 cm
Motifs is a remake and an extension of Family Love. I wanted to further the idea of portraiture with bright colours and motifs. Andy Warhol’s Marylin Diptych screenprint series influenced the composition as demonstrated by the “pop art” colour scheme. The combination of pink, blue and white offer a more intense and brutal combination of colours. The pen motifs added an additional layer of complexity to the image that present a personal significance to the sitter.
The Vendor on the Streets (October 2019)
Charcoal on paper
60 x 50 cm
The Vendor on the Streets is based on a photograph I took of a market stall in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The use of charcoal highlights the shadows and the darker features of the image. The composition is classical, with the sitter situated at the center of the piece. This tonal drawing is authentic and eye catching, delivering a calm and enjoyable mood. Beat Struli’s instinctive street photographs influenced the original process of the piece.
The Mercedes (November 2019)
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 cm
The circular frame highlighting the details in the object gives a specific perspective to the viewer and makes them focus on the intentions of the painting. Mercedes's circular format is absorbing because it challenges the audience to imagine the rest of the piece. The light and soft varieties of blues, yellows and whites sets a calm tone to the shading of the piece. The initial process of this piece relies on Ralph Goings, a photorealistic painter who represents a large variety of vehicles.
Distorted Face (February 2021)
Coloured markers on wood
51 x 41 cm
Distorted Face is a deformed portrait. The combination of colours in sectioned parts of the picture creates a compelling contrast, for example with the oranges, greens and blues. The details were key. I incorporated motifs in some areas of the piece, such as in the shoulder or right side of his hair doo. George Condo inspired the creation of this piece as he assembled both distortion and human imperfection in visages, with interesting colour combinations.
The 5 faces (November 2019)
Ceramic sculpture
27 x 28 x 4 cm
The 5 Faces represent a variety of human emotions and the conflict installed between them. With the use of different facial expressions, each face in this sculpture represents a different aspect of human emotion and melancholy. The use of clay allows the artwork to have a rough and uneven texture to convey the many imperfections and flaws relating to the theme of human emotion. This is purposefully used to represent how humans have unique facial and emotional features.
My Aunt (November 2021)
Acrylic Paint and black markers on canvas
145 x 113 cm
This piece is an acrylic painting based on a photograph of my aunt. The painting was put together with acrylic paint and black thick POSCA markers. My Aunt’s bright and vivid tints bring comfortability to the audience. The contrast of the different oranges, yellow and whites create a harmonious colour scheme. This work carries important meaning to me as it represents her legacy. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein’s bright “pop art” colour palette influenced the making of this piece.
Motion man (March 2021)
31 x 26 cm
Motion Man is the last piece belonging to the theme of portraiture and human characteristics. The piece is inspired by a photograph of my cousin taken this summer in France. The piece incorporates classical proportions with the addition of motifs and lines in sectioned parts of the body and face. The different parts of the body and visage sectioned by thick lines creates contrast with the empty segments. The multiplication of shapes and lines creates a compelling relief and contrast for the audience.
Multiple Faces (February 2021)
Black markers and acrylic paint on wood
122 x 22 cm
The theme of portraits being central, I desired to replicate numerous rectangular small - sized portraits. The addition of subtle red acrylic paint in some areas of the composition adds contrast and variance to the ensemble. The replication of black figures creates a monochrome format, with bits of red acrylic contrasting this tonal aspect. David Hockney’ and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s figurative yet distorted portrait techniques influenced me during the creation of Multiple Faces.