Jose Parla Research Paper
José Parlá
José Parlá is a modern contemporary artist born in 1973 Miami, Florida.
Parlá began painting in 1983 and by 1988 he was accepted into the Savannah College of Art and Design’s scholarship program.
He used this experience to extend his art making by combining concepts he already knew as a self taught artist and concepts he learnt from the Savannah College.
Parlá’s works are huge canvases (usually 4x6ft) painted in a way that makes you wonder what it is that lurks under all the layers, how it is created and why it was made.
His pieces are thick, layers upon layers of scratchy dark ink and paint. His technique is so perfected that he is still able to turn the dark into colourful and beautiful pieces with multiple thick layers …show more content…
of Arabian calligraphy carefully scrawled across the canvas.
Through his work Parlá intends to create an original, story-like scaffold of his own memories and personal experiences. He visually documents events and ideas through his works. He quotes these as ‘Segmented Realities’.
“I am using my imagination to capture the psychology of a segmented reality.
These realities, which are deposited into our subconscious every day, are the basis for dialogue that goes mostly un-noticed. Once these ‘Segmented Realities’ are transferred or converted into paintings they become a ‘memory Document’; a sort of time capsule for my experience in history”- José Parlá
Quote: http://abduzeedo.com/typographic-paintings-jose-parla#
This quote explains that Parlá uses his memory and experiences as the main concept of his work. Another large contributing factor to his work is the influence of Urban or ‘Street’ art. Growing up and living in Miami there was always some form of ‘Anonymous Art’ found on the street. Parlá was intrigued by this. Once he moved to New York City, this art became a huge influence for his groundbreaking pieces.
Parlá has also quoted that “My influences come from life’s many new introductions to new conditions. Seeing new types of art can be mind expanding, just like visiting new cities and countries where one can absorb and observe new types of culture. Mostly through travel I have seen my influences grow”.
Quote:
http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?id=1310&option=com_content&task=view#
Parlá’s work falls into three of the four frames; the structural frame, the subjective frame and the postmodern frame.
He uses signs and symbols discreetly in his paintings to convey meaning while still looking like art and fitting around his theme of a segmented realities and as a reflection of the today’s urban population.
For example, the Arabian calligraphy used represents the time Parlá spent overseas travelling the Middle East. The calligraphy in his work looks nothing more than beautiful street graffiti, until you look closer and discover what it really is. As Parlá says; “It carries meaning as symbols embedded with emotions”.
Quote: http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?id=1310&option=com_content&task=view#
Between the Earthly and the Divine
He includes an extensive use of the elements of design by using a variety of tone, colour, shape, line, space, direction and most importantly, texture. All of Parlá’s pieces have multilayered slabs of texture. They are created so thick yet they still contain huge amounts of intricate detail. Parlá also uses the principles of design in contrast, balance and proportion.
All of Parlá’s works fit perfectly into the postmodern frame. They each challenge the traditional view of art while using slight appropriation of urban art found on walls and streets.
Parlá’s work is very particular; he is dedicated to pushing boundaries and is instantly recognisable. His works look like torn, stripped posters with stacked layers of collage and heavy textures. Parlá adopts materials that are usually found in construction and leaves remnants of these to create atmosphere. He finds compositions on the deteriorating walls of New York and photographs them. All of his photos are the basis for his piece.
To create the sensational texture and appeal he work includes, he uses materials such as charcoal, oil paint, acrylic paint, chalks, pens, paint markers, mixed paints, glue, aerosol cans, pastes and pigments. He literally uses whatever he can find to create the wanted effect.
Parlá’s work takes a lot of experimentation. “I use a lot of new materials, I mix my own paints and chalks and work with pigments not available on the market, my friend; a biologist makes them for me. My studio is more like a laboratory.”
Quote: http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?id=1310&option=com_content&task=view#
Using techniques like dripping, thick paint, knife application, scratching, pasting, ripping, burning and sanding he creates layers and texture that represent the age of memories collected through periods of his life.
A few years ago, Parlá travelled through the Middle East and Asia, “exploring”. While there he studied the art of Arabian calligraphy which he now uses as the final touch to his works. Each piece includes the name of the location his source of inspiration comes from, like the place a photograph was taken or somewhere he walked past and liked the tone of the bricks. He also adds an experience he had or witnessed while there.
Parlá’s works show representation of interest in the world today. His expressive form of painting tells deep stories about his past, experiences and dreams. The choice of subject being Urban Art is appropriate in the world today because it is quite a controversial topic. With people believing street art is committed by delinquents and criminals, Parlá feels it is more a form of expression and finds it inspirational. Because of this, he makes the audience think about the reasons behind the street art, who did it and why?
To an audience in the form of teachers and students Parlá’s work is the perfect example of what art demonstrates. The way he makes his pieces and conveys meaning through them is intriguing yet still a knowledgeable form of art.
Parlá involves his audience by making his works with a sense of unknown. By doing this it lets the audience create their own meanings and interpretations. By not being able to read the calligraphy you see in the paintings it makes the audience wonder whether it is graffiti or symbols or signs.
José Parlá is a modern contemporary artist born in 1973 Miami, Florida.
Parlá began painting in 1983 and by 1988 he was accepted into the Savannah College of Art and Design’s scholarship program.
He used this experience to extend his art making by combining concepts he already knew as a self taught artist and concepts he learnt from the Savannah College.
Parlá’s works are huge canvases (usually 4x6ft) painted in a way that makes you wonder what it is that lurks under all the layers, how it is created and why it was made.
His pieces are thick, layers upon layers of scratchy dark ink and paint. His technique is so perfected that he is still able to turn the dark into colourful and beautiful pieces with multiple thick layers …show more content…
of Arabian calligraphy carefully scrawled across the canvas.
Through his work Parlá intends to create an original, story-like scaffold of his own memories and personal experiences. He visually documents events and ideas through his works. He quotes these as ‘Segmented Realities’.
“I am using my imagination to capture the psychology of a segmented reality.
These realities, which are deposited into our subconscious every day, are the basis for dialogue that goes mostly un-noticed. Once these ‘Segmented Realities’ are transferred or converted into paintings they become a ‘memory Document’; a sort of time capsule for my experience in history”- José Parlá
Quote: http://abduzeedo.com/typographic-paintings-jose-parla#
This quote explains that Parlá uses his memory and experiences as the main concept of his work. Another large contributing factor to his work is the influence of Urban or ‘Street’ art. Growing up and living in Miami there was always some form of ‘Anonymous Art’ found on the street. Parlá was intrigued by this. Once he moved to New York City, this art became a huge influence for his groundbreaking pieces.
Parlá has also quoted that “My influences come from life’s many new introductions to new conditions. Seeing new types of art can be mind expanding, just like visiting new cities and countries where one can absorb and observe new types of culture. Mostly through travel I have seen my influences grow”.
Quote:
http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?id=1310&option=com_content&task=view#
Parlá’s work falls into three of the four frames; the structural frame, the subjective frame and the postmodern frame.
He uses signs and symbols discreetly in his paintings to convey meaning while still looking like art and fitting around his theme of a segmented realities and as a reflection of the today’s urban population.
For example, the Arabian calligraphy used represents the time Parlá spent overseas travelling the Middle East. The calligraphy in his work looks nothing more than beautiful street graffiti, until you look closer and discover what it really is. As Parlá says; “It carries meaning as symbols embedded with emotions”.
Quote: http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?id=1310&option=com_content&task=view#
Between the Earthly and the Divine
He includes an extensive use of the elements of design by using a variety of tone, colour, shape, line, space, direction and most importantly, texture. All of Parlá’s pieces have multilayered slabs of texture. They are created so thick yet they still contain huge amounts of intricate detail. Parlá also uses the principles of design in contrast, balance and proportion.
All of Parlá’s works fit perfectly into the postmodern frame. They each challenge the traditional view of art while using slight appropriation of urban art found on walls and streets.
Parlá’s work is very particular; he is dedicated to pushing boundaries and is instantly recognisable. His works look like torn, stripped posters with stacked layers of collage and heavy textures. Parlá adopts materials that are usually found in construction and leaves remnants of these to create atmosphere. He finds compositions on the deteriorating walls of New York and photographs them. All of his photos are the basis for his piece.
To create the sensational texture and appeal he work includes, he uses materials such as charcoal, oil paint, acrylic paint, chalks, pens, paint markers, mixed paints, glue, aerosol cans, pastes and pigments. He literally uses whatever he can find to create the wanted effect.
Parlá’s work takes a lot of experimentation. “I use a lot of new materials, I mix my own paints and chalks and work with pigments not available on the market, my friend; a biologist makes them for me. My studio is more like a laboratory.”
Quote: http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?id=1310&option=com_content&task=view#
Using techniques like dripping, thick paint, knife application, scratching, pasting, ripping, burning and sanding he creates layers and texture that represent the age of memories collected through periods of his life.
A few years ago, Parlá travelled through the Middle East and Asia, “exploring”. While there he studied the art of Arabian calligraphy which he now uses as the final touch to his works. Each piece includes the name of the location his source of inspiration comes from, like the place a photograph was taken or somewhere he walked past and liked the tone of the bricks. He also adds an experience he had or witnessed while there.
Parlá’s works show representation of interest in the world today. His expressive form of painting tells deep stories about his past, experiences and dreams. The choice of subject being Urban Art is appropriate in the world today because it is quite a controversial topic. With people believing street art is committed by delinquents and criminals, Parlá feels it is more a form of expression and finds it inspirational. Because of this, he makes the audience think about the reasons behind the street art, who did it and why?
To an audience in the form of teachers and students Parlá’s work is the perfect example of what art demonstrates. The way he makes his pieces and conveys meaning through them is intriguing yet still a knowledgeable form of art.
Parlá involves his audience by making his works with a sense of unknown. By doing this it lets the audience create their own meanings and interpretations. By not being able to read the calligraphy you see in the paintings it makes the audience wonder whether it is graffiti or symbols or signs.