Cante Jondo
2008-2011
The “Cante Jondo” group of paintings have an existential tone and represent a song of freedom and beauty that is an evolution from the previous series, “Duende.” Both series are a metaphor/synaesthesia which arises from my association between Flamenco hand clapping and the sound and image of birds taking off.
Artworks
Statement
The “Cante Jondo” group of paintings have an existential tone and represent a song of freedom and beauty that is an evolution from the previous series, “Duende.” Both series are a metaphor/synaesthesia which arises from my association between Flamenco hand clapping and the sound and image of birds taking off. In this work, there is no narrative but the sensation of an extended poetic moment, where I wish to recreate in the viewer the same sensation of movement and liberation which I feel when I listen to the clapping. “Cante Jondo” is the gypsy equivalent of the Spanish expression “cante hondo” (deep singing), a more ancient and austere musical form which is deeper in spirituality than Flamenco songs. Originating from the desire for spiritual freedom and happiness by the gypsy and Andalusian people of Spain, the Cante Jondo sound expresses an internal existential lament with which I now deeply connect. This connection is liberating for me. The Cante Jondo series of paintings, like the musical form which inspired them, is executed in a rather austere form using a more monochromatic palette and gestural strokes. With time, it has evolved into more colorful depictions of flying birds passing through subtle grids produced by clouds.
El grupo de pinturas “Cante Jondo” tiene un tono existencial y está basado en una metáfora que representa una canción de belleza y libertad, y es además una evolución de la serie previa, “Duende.” Ambas series emergen de la asociación que establezco entre el sonido de palmas de flamenco y la imagen y sonido de aves que se echan a volar. En este trabajo no existe narrativa sino la sensación de un momento poético extendido donde deseo recrear en el espectador la misma sensación de movimiento y liberación que siento cuando escucho las palmas. El Cante Jondo es una forma musical mas sobria y precedente a las canciones flamencas, la cual expresa un lamento existencial interno y una espiritualidad mas profunda con la cual ahora conecto muy bien. Esta conexión me produce una auténtica liberación. A la serie le otorgué tal nombre por la analogía que existe entre la sobriedad del color y la seriedad de este tipo de cante flamenco. Aunque utilizo el mismo concepto que en “Duende”, este trabajo está más enfocado en el esto y movimiento, descifrado con un rango de colores más monocromático y sobrio. Con el tiempo, la serie ha evolucionado hacia descripciones algo más coloristas de aves al vuelo en su paso a través de cuadrículas subliminales producidas por nubes.
” My experience of Flamenco is with poetic emotion, filled with primitive and earthy intensity, an uncontrolled and pure cry, free of walls. This free world imprisons me in its beauty, like the bird condemned to fly in space for eternal safety. I express the flapping of wings on my canvases using abrupt rhythms in brush strokes, reminiscent of Flamenco hand clapping.”
” My experience of Flamenco is with poetic emotion, filled with primitive and earthy intensity, an uncontrolled and pure cry, free of walls. This free world imprisons me in its beauty, like the bird condemned to fly in space for eternal safety. I express the flapping of wings on my canvases using abrupt rhythms in brush strokes, reminiscent of Flamenco hand clapping.”