“In the tireless pursuit of my own artistic expression, I have now re-encountered oil painting as a way to connect with a deeper part of myself.”
Soluna Fine Art is pleased to present Still Light, Javier León Pérez’s first solo exhibition with the gallery. The exhibition showcases Pérez’s latest oil painting series, representing the culmination of his diverse artistic expressions through the interplay of spaces, lights, and shadows. Pérez’s creative process begins with the reference to paper models, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional pictorial genre of “still life”, capturing daily common objects that provoke a philosophical contemplation about existentialism across different eras. Geometry and light, the two hallmarks of Pérez’s new series, not only serve as the pictorial structure and inherent order of the universe but also symbolize the artist’s metaphorical and aesthetic form of self-construction, known as the “archetype of creation”. Still Light will be on view at Soluna Fine Art from 25 January to 2 March 2024, with an opening reception on 25 January (Thurs) at 6–8 pm.
The entire series in Still Light encompasses a vast array of perceptible and abstract gestures, and hums with the sublime intensity of life itself, a type of energy and mastery for which Pérez is known for. Although renowned for his elaborate paper works, in this exhibition, he returns to the canvas, using it as a platform for his visual experimentation. By interweaving colors, shapes, and creating the illusion of space, he generates a visual void within the chaos, suggesting the intriguing duality of art as both an individual expression and a universal pursuit. It represents his personal quest for beauty and a journey to the center of being, seeking universal truth.
“The illusion of space and light in my paintings represents the bridge between perception and intuition. It is in this interplay of spaces, shadows, and lights that the very essence of reality is hidden, serving as a reminder that our perception is merely a fragment of the vast cosmic tapestry.”
Pérez’s statement describes the paintings as gateways to his deepest self, where the complexities of existence unfold through the interplay of lights and shadows from the deepest corners of the mind. The geometric illusion of the porthole, a technique frequently employed in his sculptures and paintings, signifies a psychological space that draws viewers into its disorienting ambiance, urging them to immerse themselves in the artwork and reflect on the body’s instability vis-à-vis its environment.
Still Light will transport viewers into a world of visually poetic and evocative narratives, prompting them to ponder the creation and disruption of elements, and by extension challenge their sense of bodily autonomy and perception of reality. This encapsulates a state of in-betweenness and the universal exploration of human existence.
