I’m not such a huge fan of modern art, opting to look at a great photograph or impressionistic painting instead. A lot of the time I simply don’t get it and am left scratching my head as I stare blankly at a set of plastic blinds on the floor at the NYC Museum of Modern Art (true story). But this painting by Lino Lago, a talented artist who hails from Spain, adds a modern twist on traditional portraits. As part of a recent series, titled Fake Abstract, Lago brings the two mediums together while commenting on how different they are.
Via Colossal: “A thin sliver or squiggle, reminiscent of a finger dragged across a foggy window, reveals a peek at the figure beneath the color. It is up to the viewer’s imagination whether Lago paints a full portrait and covers it in color, or, uses the color as the base and adds the portrait into the blank canvas left by the squiggle.”
The painting suggests nostalgic for the old days of classical, realistic artwork, while also commenting perhaps on the careless, “painting over” of tradition. It reminds me a little bit of recent works by Banksy, a favorite graffiti artist, who has added refugee life vests to classically painted shore scenes. I also think of an artist like Picasso, who wholly mastered photorealistic paintings and then took it to the other end of the spectrum. Perhaps Lago is showcasing his ability to paint underneath it all, meanwhile, he’s just choosing the abstract. Many artists are talented in several mediums, and often you wouldn’t know it based on one piece of work or series.
And those questions and the intrigue he’s stirred inside me when I look at this piece is what makes this a great piece of art. It’s funny, but I don’t think I’d mind looking at both pieces: one a fully realized classic portrait, and the other a canvas covered in my favorite color: pink! Put together, though, it’s even better. What do you think?
To see more of Lino Lago’s work, check out this article on Colossal, and to find out about upcoming shows, check out his website here. What kind of art do you like? Share with me in the comments below!
Image copyright Lino Lago courtesy of Colossal.
