FRIDA KAHLO AND TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE
For artist-photographer Damian Siqueiros, feeling juxtaposed between two worlds is commonplace. Raised in Baja California, a great nephew of Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros, Damian began a serious study of fine art, in Paris, at an early age. As he became fully trilingual (in English, Spanish and French), the young Siqueiros began a concurrent fascination with the painterly possibilities of photography.
To Russia with Love – Damian Siqueiros
With a French-inflected passion for lenses and lighting, Siqueiros opened a studio in Montreal, where he has been shooting commercial work as resident photographer for the Montreal Ballet, as well as personal fine art projects.
Siqueiros’ productions – and that is what they are, productions – are rich in artistic references and homages to classical painters and paintings. He casts his often gender-ambiguous models as actors who he then directs to emotionalize and physicalize the highly theatrical presence he captures on camera. Siqueiros builds sets, uses stylists, employs costumers and make-up artists, to anoint with great elegance and visual virtuosity those he has chosen to photograph. Then the artist caresses his subjects with a highly theatrical point of view to effect his vision. And, oh! What a vision Siqueiros has!
This artist begins working in pre-production on concept themes and sketches; in production, like a filmmaker he uses his cast and crew to lay down the shot; and finally, in post-production, Siqueiros uses computer techniques to merge backgrounds and architectural fantasies into his images, bringing them to their full presentational state. Siqueiros’ photographs are extravagant mirages often featuring Jungian and Freudian subtexts.
Damian Siqueiros is an artist whose images work on many levels simultaneously. No mere collector of visual object trouvé documents, Siqueiros’ pictures are exquisitely detailed, carefully planned out historical and artistic allegories. Siqueiros’ works call to life iconic archetypes, myths and fantasies, costumed, bathed in light, color and glamour, so they all sing the artist’s manifesto: La beauté sauvera le monde! Beauty will save the world!
Damian Siqueiros’ photographs are extravagant mirages of myths and fantasies, costumed, opulently colored and bathed in star light. They all call out with the artists’ manifesto… La beauté sauvera le monde! Beauty will save the world!
— Phil Tarley, Director, Artist’s Corner Gallery & Bookmaking
MONTREAL ARTIST DAMIAN SIQUEIROS OPENS HIS FIRST
LOS ANGELES EXHIBITION AT ARTISTS CORNER GALLERYARTIST’S RECEPTION – SATURDAY, MAY 3 – 7-9 PM
THROUGH JUNE 7, 2014
SEE THIS SHOW IN LOS ANGELES BEFORE IT MOVES TO NEW YORK AND BEYOND6585 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90038
A bright red building on the corner of Seward Street
Telephone 323.464.3900 | www.artistscorner.us
ADMISSION FREE: REFRESHMENTS SERVED
Tristan & Isolde – Damian Siqueiros
Ophelia: The Paradox of Her Own Reflection – Damian Siqueiros
Sacred Performances: Emotional Liaisons – Damian Siqueiros
Dawn – Damian Siqueiros
Diaghilev and Najinksy – Damian Siqueiros
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