New artworks by Andres Guerrero and Albert Reyes at Subliminal Projects

Feb 07, 2010 | Comments 1

Art by Albert Reyes

Sitting with artists Andres Guerrero and Albert Reyes as the hustle and bustle of last minute preparations surrounded us for their show, “New works by Andres Guerro and Albert Reyes”, at the Sublimal Arts Gallery in Echo Park California, was an undeniable treat for me. The show is presented as “two longtime friends contrasting bodies of work show both ends of the contemplation spectrum”. The contrast is clear, but also present is the thread that bonds these artist and their work.

Art by Andres Guerrero

Guerro’s work comes from a place of introspection. He creates rhythms through the use of pattern and line. His work is often centered around the iconic skull. It acts as the centerpiece radiating like a sunset of severed thoughts partitioned into threads of energy beaming off the canvas. Andres current work is seeded with personal loss and tangled complex emotion that lend itself to the abstract nature of his pieces. Art is his vehicle of communication for the things that cannot be said by the artist, only expressed.

Guerrero’s work also has a controlled nature to it, as he described, in contrast to Reyes, as “meticulous and rigid”. His work is purposeful, symmetrical and peppered with collage of what seems like clips of printed currency, variant patterns resembling the backside of playing cards or the borders of merit certificates. These patterns are set above the backdrop of worn surfaces. The game of life, the quest for self identification and acknowledgement beam their layers over struggle. He opens his vortex to the viewer and invites them join in.

Art by Albert Reyes

Then I turn 180 degrees, literally, and like life in this city, another world exists. Unlike Guerro’s work, Albert Reyes work is approached from another place, from the eyes looking outward. His work is the response to the realities of life, bills, family, politics and war. They are displayed as if a release valve was loosened from the firehose of his mind sprayed on the wall in true street art ethos. His work is ironic, humorous and beautifully captures the lifestyle commonly seen in LA without pretension or cliche. I couldn’t help but smile at his take on pop cultural references such as the goateed superman with a black eye, or E.T. in a business suit. His understated way of repurposing these popular characters to reflect the world as he sees it and as he wants it. His use of found canvases such as book covers and other random items are also are used as a powerful tool to reflect the raw and urgent nature of his work and his close identity with the neighborhoods that he associates himself with.

As I spoke with both of these artist it was easy to see their connection and respect for each other. Although independent in style and substance, in this show they are like the yin and the yang to each other, connected by friendship, art and reciprocal respect for each other’s work. Their work is bridged by their common companion of painful experiences. Whether it is pain of everyday life or personal loss, their work is about exploration and transformation of that the pain into hope. The byproduct of this transformation are the symbols that are created of to reflect and mediate on and understand that even in our differences and in our pain…we are not alone.

Art by Andres Guerrero

Art by Albert Reyes

Art by Andres Guerrero

Works will be on display from February 6th to March 6th at:
Subliminal Projects
1331 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
For more information: http://www.subliminalprojects.com

SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS is a multifunctional gallery space promoting diverse forms of art while providing a forum for contemporary dialogue. It was originally created by Shepard Fairey and Blaze Blouin as an artist collective in 1995. The group played an integral part in introducing skateboarding culture and design to the art world, showcasing artists such as Phil Frost, Thomas Campbell, Mike Mills, Dave Aaron, and Mark Gonzales.

Now located in the historic Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park, Subliminal Projects continues to offer a platform for artistic exploration and innovation. The 2009 schedule includes art exhibitions by established and emerging artists, as well as a lecture series, workshops and artist publications.