VIEWING ROOMS "BOYS"

"Boys" Series

The body of the young man, in its physical prime, has been a central theme in art since classical antiquity, symbolizing strength, vitality, and anatomical perfection.

Embracing this tradition, photographic precision endows the figures with an almost tangible presence. The models are not merely young; they are monuments to youth. Light strikes every muscle and tendon, highlighting a vitality that is, on one hand, an aesthetic celebration of the human form and, on the other, a study of anatomy in its most powerful state. This glorification serves as a reminder of the ephemeral beauty of youth, immortalized through painting.

However, there is a latent tension in these works that imbues them with remarkable psychological depth. Much like Michelangelo’s Slaves, which seem to struggle to break free from the marble that encases them, these models convey a sense of being "imprisoned" within their own skin. It is not a physical struggle but an emotional restraint, a stillness that isolates the subject from their surroundings. The skin becomes the surface of this prison, a shell of flesh that defines the boundaries of the self. The inward gaze does not distract the viewer but reinforces the idea of an inaccessible inner world, a contained strength yearning to be embraced.

The parallelism with Michelangelo’s sculpture is even more evident in the treatment of volume. Light and shadow give each figure a solidity that rivals marble. These are not flat bodies but volumes that cast real shadows, appearing to occupy three-dimensional space. This ability to generate a sense of mass and weight through painting is what gives these works their sculptural monumentality.

The result is an art that, despite its undeniable technical virtuosity, transcends the physical to delve into a reflection on the human condition, beauty, strength, and restraint.

–Javier Arizabalo