For nineteen years, Abel Alejandre has been in the process of imagining the world through his particular vision. Born in rural central Mexico in 1968, theartist emigrated with his family to California in 1975. Having earned a livingfrom the land, Abel’s father had different aspirations for his eldest son,urging him towards a trade and, in his estimation, a better life. Abel, however, chose a route that few have the ability or conviction to pursue – the canvas.
Abel’s influences have emerged from an array of artists, both ancient and modern. One – and perhaps his seminal – experience with art occurred upon viewing one of Rembrandt’s numerous self-portraits. Apart from its purely aesthetic qualities, it conveyed a sacrosanct aura. It was this glimpse into another realm – one of a life fully lived – which intrigued and enchanted Abel. It was this reality - that which Rembrandt saw and inhabited, that Abel sought to recapture. So too the material world, tempered by ideology, revolution and upheaval, expressed by muralist Diego Rivera and his contemporary Sequiros, also finds expression in Abel’s work.
Though having limited formal painting instruction, Abel has created a varied and captivating body of work. His work seeks to unify and segregate simultaneously; it connects you to the concrete, material world. His creative energies find expression from within and without, culminating in a unique vision of the world. Having worked with a number of mediums and styles throughout his career, Abel’s new collection is an assemblage of primal images realized predominantly in shade and line. The rich and varied nature of oil paints is readily apparent in Verus Invicta. Number two in a series of six monochromatic works, the bust-like apparition details a man ensconced in Stoic reflection, a solitary figure possessed with resolve and conviction. Seated Nude II, reminiscent of Blake’s fluid juxtaposition of mass and fluidity, captures a moment of youthful vibrancy and sensuality.
Abel Alejandre has sought to capture the world through his artistic endeavors. His is a substantive vision, affected by the past, yet cognizant of the inner and outer realities of modern life.
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