Andy Diaz’s "Caught in the System" currently on at OMNI, is a captivating show inviting viewers into a rich and dense artistic world, where themes of identity, societal constructs, and personal narratives are explored.
Stepping into the gallery space, one is immediately struck by the visual richness and intricate detail that characterize Diaz's artworks. The use of media, the contrasting materiality of aerosol and liquid paints, fast and slow, the simultaneous subtle and aggressive colour palates, creates tension in the canvases. Spray paint, with its graffiti and street art associations, imparts a distinctive essence of urgency and spontaneity. The works emanate a dynamic energy, infusing the defined spaces with a palpable sense of vibrancy and movement. This intermingling of colours, lines, and textures yields a harmonious discord that captivates the viewer's gaze. The boundaries of the canvas are physically honoured, the catch is the cacophony within.
Diaz's artistic process is driven by intuition and instinct, as he navigates the expression of his paintings without pre-planning. One is drawn to the childlike depictions of cartoonish characters that permeate his canvases, the significance of these motifs becoming apparent as they recur throughout Diaz's body of work.
As a Cuban American artist, Diaz draws on his experiences of growing up as the only child of over protective parents, having to use his imagination as a creative outlet, and creating a visual language that resonates with a shared nostalgia for carefree play and uninhibited expression. The works have a hazy, veiled quality to them, adding to the overall elusive, dreamlike effect. His love for skateboarding is compared to a sense of flying, the freedom and kinetic expression evident in the large looming paintings occupying the space.
"Caught in the System" showcases an essence of human existence within societal frameworks, delving into the realms of identity, personal history and belonging. Diaz’s exploration of heritage, through the eyes of a child, his life narratives rooted in personal memories, family stories, and the complexities of cultural assimilation, offers glimpses into the multifaceted nature of human existence, inviting viewers to reflect on their own place within the intricate systems that shape their lives.
On until 01.07.2023
OMNI
56-57 Eastcastle Street
London, W1W 8EG
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