Barrio Escalante, San José

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Composición, by Jorge Tamayo. A dense, vertical cluster of articulated forms rises against a fiery field of pure vermilion.

Jorge Tamayo

Composición

Technique
Acrylic/Canvas
Dimensions
110 × 130 cm
Status
Available
Palette
vermilion, cerulean blue, purple, golden ochre, viridian green
Brushwork
Delimited planes with chromatic glazes and textured nuances in acrylic

Curatorial analysis

A dense, vertical cluster of articulated forms rises against a fiery field of pure vermilion. This saturated, uncompromising background does not function as passive negative space; it exerts an enveloping pressure that pushes an intertwined conglomerate of figures forward, prompting the eye to unravel each of its folds.

Within this sculptural core, angular profiles, schematic torsos, and anatomical fragments coexist, evoking the simultaneous presence of archetypal characters and zoomorphic shapes, most notably the stylized silhouette of an equine form toward the right flank. The artist articulates the grouping through a rigorous compartmentalization of planes that alternate sharp edges with restrained curves. Cool tones of turquoise, violet, and viridian green serve as a thermal counterpoint to the warm ochres and the omnipresent surrounding red, generating a syncopated rhythm where no surface remains entirely flat.

The paint application reveals a patient handling upon the canvas: rather than relying on flat commercial coats, each facet harbors subtle tonal gradations, translucent glazes, and graphic scrapes that recall the patina of an antique textile or ceremonial armor. Minute ornamental accents, such as rows of small circles reminiscent of buttons, stitches, or studs, introduce an intimate, nearly craft-like scale that softens the geometric severity.

What emerges is a scene reminiscent of both a commedia dell'arte masquerade and a hieratic procession suspended in a space devoid of horizon or chronological time. The tension between figuration and the pure architecture of chromatic planes sustains an enduring visual charge, transforming the canvas into a plastic enigma where individual identity dissolves willingly into the collective strength of the ensemble.

Composición

More works by Jorge Tamayo

6 works

Available works

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