RUDY VIGIL |
Cómo comprar arte de Rudy Vigil |
“I like painting because it’s fluid and immediate”
I use mostly lines though, so it looks a lot like drawing. I also use photography, found media images, diagrams and collage – I like to play them against each other to create tension and excitement.
Earlier my work was quite political - now it’s more meditative and ambiguous. Heads, faces in landscapes, combined with seemingly incongruous objects and diagrams. Layering meanings and juxtaposition have always been an element of my paintings. Layer upon layer, contrasting colors, figures and faces against implied landscapes, mountains, desert and sea, constructing a cacophony of emotion - and hopefully meaning.
Earlier my work was quite political - now it’s more meditative and ambiguous. Heads, faces in landscapes, combined with seemingly incongruous objects and diagrams. Layering meanings and juxtaposition have always been an element of my paintings. Layer upon layer, contrasting colors, figures and faces against implied landscapes, mountains, desert and sea, constructing a cacophony of emotion - and hopefully meaning.
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It would be great if my paintings spoke for themselves. I hope viewers are intrigued and that they impart to them – and to myself - something new, an emotion, delight, maybe even an uneasy feeling, a question, a search, a journey
I have always wanted to be an artist, but it took me a long time to figure out what that meant and how to do it. As a child I was also interested in the ocean and nature. I grew up by the sea, surfing, learning about fish and sea life. Jacques Cousteau, The Scripps Institute and the TV program “Flipper”, which were popular at the time, all had an influence on me.
I have always wanted to be an artist, but it took me a long time to figure out what that meant and how to do it. As a child I was also interested in the ocean and nature. I grew up by the sea, surfing, learning about fish and sea life. Jacques Cousteau, The Scripps Institute and the TV program “Flipper”, which were popular at the time, all had an influence on me.
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When I’m not working on my paintings, I love to spend time in the garden, in the countryside, or traveling. Working in our old house and garden - maize and avocados, stones and lime, old wood – provides another creative outlet. I like to read about society, history, social structure. I like to look at lots of images and contrast them. I also enjoy spending time with friends playing, dancing and singing together - I play Verdiales (the local ancient ecstatic folk music) with a local group.
Originally, I am from California, in the southwest USA, and I was drawn to southern Spain as the closest connection to my Indian/Spanish-speaking homeland. I grew up in a mix and confusion of cultures, and it took me time to sort it out. I also grew up during a period of optimism, but gradually realized that it was being foiled by commercial economic forces. |
12 years ago we bought and renovated a small summer house in Cútar. I took a year’s sabbatical from teaching art in Sweden and once it was up I didn’t want to go back, even though I enjoyed my work in Stockholm. So we bought the neighbor’s house too and moved here for good. From then on, I have made a point of improving my Spanish and learning as much about the local culture and history as I can.
My dream project? Maybe to paint a house or a village with images together with others - a collaborative project
Rudy Vigil was born in Los Angeles, California with a Mexican-American, Swedish-Finnish background. B.A. in linguistics and Scandinavian Languages from UCLA and a post-graduate Magister from Konstfack in Stockholm in cultural studies - youth culture dealing with identity construction. Taught art, language and history, and has exhibited in California, Arizona, Stockholm and Málaga.
