In our discussion and collection of multimedia technology and its uses in the arts, I've already brought to your attention the ideas of Stop-Motion, installations (specifically with the use of light), and how photography and video are used as well, as seen in Shirin Neshat's work.
While continuing this discussion, I'd like to bring your attention to an artist that I know and whose work I admire - Juan Rojo. In my freshman year here at the University of Maryland, Juan was my TA for both my Drawing I class, as well as my Introduction to 2-D Design class. I've seen his work up and around the art building on campus and in the graduate studios and he really has a point of view that is intriguing.
He describes his process in his own words:
My work blends painting, video and digital printing. My artistic production is now divided between film production and graphic-painting work. For my painting work I use video as my main source material from where I extract the images that I incorporate into the paintings by printing and transfer techniques. The videos depict simple processes or actions, such as eating, hugging, or applying make-up. These actions are deeply interiorized and they recreate “true” moments of intimacy by capturing the natural way in which the body communicates. The emphasis is on the actions per se, the importance of the time spent performing them, and the associations that the actions carry are mainly related to emotional and cultural identity.
This amalgamation of techniques, I believe, directly exemplifies how art has changed today. The fact that we, as artists, have the ability to use video, to use photography, to print in different ways, while still incorporating traditional media such as acrylic paints - and then to edit and perfect them to send out our message...that's an important thing to notice about today's art world. Note Rojo's paintings here - notice how they all have a feel of something antiqued, something altered and aged. While, at the same time, you can recognize that the portraits are stills out of video. Some paintings, such as this one, are significantly altered so that the underlying image is almost completely hidden. While others, like this one (which just happens to be of my Drawing I professor!), preserve the digitally printed still of Professor Lapinski.
Now, it's time to discuss some of his videos, which are found here.
I think the following video, named "Farewell" is a fantastic example of his work and aesthetic.
New editing of "Farewell" presented to Click&rec10, National Contest of Video-art PHotoEspaña from Juan Rojo on Vimeo.
It's a slow-motion two-minute long video of two women hugging several different times, at different angles. This exemplifies Rojo's personal description of his work - "the emphasis is on the action...and the time spent performing them." Notice how the fact that the video is slowed to almost a crawl - this captures your attention as the viewer. It makes you pay attention as if you were able to capture every individual frame - which you are, at this point. And the fact that he then takes the stills, and paints them, again emphasizes the importance of every movement - every action.
Rojo's work is a perfect example of the fusion and synthesis of traditional and modern media in the arts today.
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