Luis Reyes, Somatosensory, 2021, acrylic paint, hot glue, air dry clay, twine, modeling paste, plastic saran wrap, and washes of matte and gloss glue on canvas board, 5x7 in.
For my self directed work I made a series of 6-8 abstract paintings using multicolored swatches of colors in varying textures, patterns, and configurations that explore contrasting color, and associations color have with texture. I worked on multiple 5 x 7 inch canvas boards while using a variety of common and unconventional materials such as modeling paste, hot glue, air dry clay, twine, transparent plastic sheets, as well as found objects used either as a foundation for texture or an overlay for sensory stimulation.
Drawing inspiration from naturally occurring patterns and environmental phenomena, my goal is to explore the intricate ways in which nature is constantly changing and its relationship to the human senses using texture and color to simulate a surface level of synesthesia. Just like a shark inherently knows to stay away from the venomous black, white, and orange patterning of a lion fish, do humans have similar deterrents? Using artificial materials like plastics and silicone to simulate natural pattern I am exploring our connection of sight and touch shape our understanding of color and texture and its emotional impact? Using semi-dried paint underneath a layer of saran wrap to create a piece of art one can play with gives a relaxing, stress-free experience while hardened modeling paste settles into sharp ridges and spikes may do the opposite, this series is exploring how humans have evolved to having a sixth sense, emotion. I want my pieces to be a survey into the different associations humans have with stimuli.
