Acis and Galatea

This work is based on my interpretation of the French classical painter Nicolas Poussin's Acis and Galatea. In my most recent investigation I use Poussin as a direct reference in the process of making my own paintings. Certain aspects of his works are reproduced then reinterpreted in my process, creating a dialogue between contemporary art practice and the history of painting.

I begin by recreating the Poussin in oil paint onto a large glass plate. Gestural marks are painted over this initial layer then an additional layer of the same Poussin image masks the gestural marks. This process is repeated back and forth, combining representational painting with the abstract. When the painting is complete, I cover it with a thick layer of black oil paint and leave it to cure for about a month. Once the painting reaches a certain viscosity I use a custom made tool to gently free the paint from the glass in one large skin. This further distorts the image, creating an unexpected abstraction.

The process is very delicate. It creates a dialogue between the conventional and the unconventional, between what painting can and cannot be. My impulse is to test the possibilities of painting to its core, using the most traditional mediums, so you have an interesting tension between classical and contemporary dialogues about painting.

Angel Otero