"As an organ of vision, our eyes are often limited in our daily experiences, tired and perverted by bombarding external stimuli. However, when we immerse ourselves in creative endeavors involving our sense of touch - which connects our inner and outer world- or we are deeply moved by an Artwork, our perspective shifts towards deeper elements and internal higher-dimensional connections begin to emerge.
Spanish artist Jorge Rivera discusses his creative process, describing his emotions and thoughts at times drifting like balloons, escaping the bonds of gravity, floating in an endless space, expanding and contracting at will. In those moments, his thoughts depart from the Earth's surface, as if holding one's breath, and the constraints of time cease to exist. He believes that such moments and sensations are incredibly beautiful. Rivera's speech exudes a sense of unbridled free energy. He leaves an impression of warm and abundant colors, with a glimmer of pure passion in his eyes. He talks openly about his art, philosophy, and views on art.
Rivera attempts to resonate with the concepts he wants to express. He believes that the spirit conveyed by art is beyond words, a higher-dimensional form of expression and language. The feelings it brings transcend language, allowing people from different countries and cultures to share a common sense of inspiration. Understanding is born alongside art: people can talk, but they must first feel. The beauty of art lies in its ability to bridge the gap between people with different perspectives and cultural backgrounds. When trying to describe what art brings to them, art provides a bridge for artists to personally experience what people want to convey. It goes beyond superficial understanding and delves deeper through the artwork, an instinctive clumsy attempt to understand our human nature.
A Glimpse of Purity Amidst Turbulence
In this exhibition series, Rivera draws inspiration from the child-themed portraits painted by the Spanish 18th and 19th-century painter Francisco de Goya. During that period, Europe was engulfed in warfare and chaos, where hope was often extinguished, However, some of Goya’s portraits of novelty and various social scenes focused on children imbued in their own games. Regardless of being poor or rich and the chaos surrounding them, their innocence and curiosity for life go from emotional frenzies to joyful states of transcending reality in their play.
Rivera reevaluates the challenges faced by today's society: international turmoil, rampant wars, economic instability, and the modern society where information replaces traditional knowledge, and data supersedes experience. How can we preserve the innocent imagination of childhood in such a world? In this series of paintings, Rivera's raw and direct painting techniques enhance the presence of the figures, and the vivid composition and colors aim to engage the viewers, evoking not just observation but a desire for intimacy. Rivera hopes to transcend the constraints of paper and canvas, immersing himself in the world he constructs within the artwork, experiencing the artist's creative mindset, facing pain and struggle, yet finding joy within.
Elements of Greek mythology also feature in this exhibition. The sculpture 'Faun in Love' draws from the Greek myth of Pan, a half-man, half-goat creature who was known for teasing passing women. The artist imagines Pan falling in love with one of the women he playfully tormented, undergoing a transformation in identity and becoming like an ordinary mortal entrapped by love. This leads to contemplation of the meaning of love and intimate relationships for the character. Through various cultures, myths, and stories, the artist believes that art can help us recognize that within our world cultures, despite our different backgrounds, art can forge connections among people, allowing them to share some common values.
Art as the Form of Belief
Modern people have become accustomed to viewing the world through screens, often neglecting physical contact with reality. Despite the unquestionable progress and convenience brought by technology, Rivera hopes to offer people a more genuine sensory experience through his works, by instigating emotions through direct interaction and connection. He maintains a certain level of blindness in his creative process, avoiding over-presumption about external influences, and instead, he explores and discovers that glimmer of light in the creative process, sharing this revelation with his audience. For Rivera, his approach to art, the creative process, and even his perception of life are open-hearted, allowing life experiences to shape his thoughts and artworks. The world is ever-changing, yet we must hold onto hope, trust, and care for one another, channeling positive energy to move forward into the future. This is precisely what Rivera aims to convey through his artworks.
Jorge Rivera, born in Spain, holds a Master of Fine Arts and a Ph.D. in Sculpture from the Royal College of Art in London. His works, characterized by the fluidity of sculpture, demonstrate a profound emotional connection, expressing the beauty of art in linking different cultures and conveying positive beliefs."
