ARTICLE

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

Cubistic style on plexiglass

By Rich McMahon – February 2, 2010

Cubism is an art style that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by the use of geometric shapes and fragmented forms to depict objects or scenes. In cubistic art, the subject matter is often broken down into geometric shapes and rearranged in a way that distorts the traditional representation of form.

When it comes to using a cubistic style on plexiglass, the transparency of the material can add an interesting dimension to the artwork. By layering different colours and shapes of plexiglass, Paul Ygartua can create a sense of depth and movement within the piece. The refraction of light through the plexiglass can also create a unique visual effect.

1. WHITE WINS REVERSE PAINTED ON PLEXIGLASS 48x72IN (121X182CM) 2O1O

Paul Ygartua –  A Personal Perspective

By Rich McMahon – February 2, 2010

When I met Paul Ygartua at the Oneofakind Show in New York this past December I was at an advantage, having lived with him for 15 years. That is how long I’ve been collecting his work. And although I felt I knew him intimately, being part of my home for so long, meeting Paul in person provided a new dimension of appreciation for the man and his art. 

The first revelation in meeting Paul is that genius can be warm and gracious with a twinkle in his eye and an easy smile; and is accompanied by a beautiful, dynamic, dedicated partner, Joanne, his wife. The second is passion; when Paul who at times is dwarfed by 100 foot murals bends down to direct your attention to an almost imperceptible brush stroke, itself dwarfed by a 6 foot work. Third, is to be reminded of the breadth and scope of his portfolio: subject, geography, style and technique coalesce to form a staggering body of work.

The Ygartuas is a global couple and Paul’s work reflects their sojourns in Europe, South America, the Middle East, Australia, Mexico and Canada. His series of Native Americans captures the inner strength and dignity of its subjects, in classic style, epitomized by the mural on the wall of the United Nations Pavilion at the 1986 Expo in Vancouver, BC. Paul’s abstract landscapes are vibrant and bold and while they cover a diverse terrain they are always steeped in a local sense of place. Abstract expressionism is what drew me to his work initially and describes the still lifes, jazz legends and recent series, Primordial Chaos. 

As I look around the Oneofakind exhibit a portrait of John Lennon from the artist’s “Legends” series is riveting and takes me back to my first encounter with Paul‘s work, at a small gallery in Quebec City where I glimpsed the color, motion and attitude of Roi et Reine du Carnaval. The painting haunted and drew me and my wife back the next day. It became our first acquisition.

If you are so fortunate as to own an Ygartua painting, be prepared for a life interrupted. Hours mesmerized by the sheer joy and beauty of the work; hours spent in contemplation as you savor the artistic details and hours of introspection as you plumb the depths and layers of meaning. No day is safe. Any given moment of any given day will find you paused before a painting, hostage to a color, a brush stroke, a line, a tantalizing thought. Stand close to observe nuance and detail, stand back for majesty and awe. 

The following year we returned to the gallery and acquired 3 more works. Another version of Roi et Reine du Carnaval, an abstract oil of a man and woman on a beach Fantaisie Estivale and a small pretty still life Ete Fleur I, with a checkerboard pattern that didn’t quite fit in with the others but foreshadowed what was to come.

Life moved on and years later we came upon a version of Martini Lounge, an addition that renewed our zeal for additional Ygartuas. I went online and found Paul’s website and became intrigued by the idea of commissioning work. A confluence of events made the idea a reality. I commissioned a painting in Paul’s reverse acrylic on plexiglass technique to provide a visual depiction of my play, 1. White Wins!? (the title is based on a chess move notation). 

I approached Paul and Joanne with my project knowing he had featured chess themes in prior works. We exchanged emails about size, colors and the general subject. I sent the play script and a summary to Paul and Joanne. And although they welcomed further input I decided to place my trust in Paul’s genius and let the artist create! I met Paul and Joanne at Oneofakind NY to see the painting for the first time.

I am writing this today because of Paul’s depiction of 1. White Wins!? surpassed my wildest expectations!

The painting is a striking, Color-imbued rendition of the play’s 3 acts featuring halls of academia, a corporate environment and their metaphysical convergence impacting the lives of the characters, as well as a simulated computer, representing technology and its omnipotence over our collective lives. Anthropomorphic chess pieces represent the play’s characters with subtle tonal variations and “facial” expressions, some lurching forward (to even beyond the painting’s border), others wildly askew, symbolizing the themes of the play: personal and corporate morality examined through the prisms of determinism, free will, physics, religion and race via the lives of a philosophy professor and four students at their first meeting and twenty-five years later. 

A new dimension of appreciation comes when the artist explains the lines, brush strokes, color and details of your own Ygartua. Paul and Joanne took the time to thoroughly read my play and were intimately familiar with the characters, themes and plot. Discussing Paul’s interpretation of 1. White Wins!? and the process by which he deconstructed its concepts and flow and reassembled them into an integrated whole using his magnificent vision was an unforgettable experience. Paul as an artist and philosopher understood my play and captured its essence beyond anything I could have imagined. 

“The next painting will be the best“ Paul has said describing his “ongoing struggle for perfection – being able to break through mental and physical barriers, pushing the envelope toward realizing and developing that vision until ultimately a style is born. Then taking that style and working it until it cannot be developed further and only then moving on to adapt this to new ideas, taking you on a journey of versatility and determination to the next painting.” 

While I know Paul continues his incredible artistic journey, I can’t help but savour the notion that for a brief moment in time 1.WhiteWins!? was Paul’s “best painting.” For me, it will always hold that distinction.

RICH MCMAHON, AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT  2010



RICH MCMAHON & PAUL YGARTUA, NEW YORK ART EXPO PIER 94, NOVEMBER 2009

WITH PLEXIGLASS PAINTING – 1. WHITE WINS

CORRESPONDENCE 2OO9–2O13

THE COMMISSION 1. WHITE WINS

RE: REQUEST FOR CUSTOM/COMMISSIONED WORK

On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 4:44 PM, Rich McMahon

Dear Mr. Ygartua,

I am a tremendous admirer of your work (own several earlier abstracts on plexiglas) and wanted to explore the possibility of ordering from you a custom/commissioned painting, based on a specific theme. I believe your website at one point mentioned you entertained doing commissioned work.

I am a first-time playwright and have written a 3-act play which I am hopeful of staging one day (sadly, no producer-takers as yet).  It is titled:

1. White Wins!?  Its content emphasizes chess, and encompasses philosophy (i.e., determinism), quantum mechanics, computer technology, corporate business, race relations and date rape; dialog & plot create a compelling drama, integrating these diverse components to yield a contemporary paradigm of Convergence. My dream is to own a Paul Ygartua painting which embodies an abstract visual depiction/essence of my play. I have seen website photos of several of your chess-themed paintings to date and have no doubt that your art can capture the essential dynamics of the concepts, characters and action comprising this play.

If amenable to this idea, I would email you a 1-2 page play synopsis to guide you in the creative conceptualization of the work. I would also submit lists of colors I tend to favor, and those I would suggest using minimally. However, I would not presume to micro-manage the process and would rely on your creativity & interpretative genius, which have been manifest in prior works I’ve seen.

By way of specifics, I am seeking an acrylic on reverse plexiglas, with dimensions 200 cm X 120 cm. I would like the work to contain a modest frame. I have $3,000.00 (USD) to spend, which seems consistent with your advertised prices for similar abstract paintings.

Please let me know if this is a project you would consider and if affirmative, a rough estimate of timing, as well as guidance as to next steps and how the process would unfold.

All the best,   Richard H. McMahon

SUMMER 2OO9  SITGES, CATALUNA, SPAIN

JOANNE WROTE:

Hi Richard — We are here in Sitges, just outside Barcelona, very hot about 38 degrees everyday.  The Med is great even early in the morning.

Your play sounds fascinating, very interesting subject matter for Paul.  Actually, the timing for us could be perfect if you could wait till December.  I have wanted Paul to do a few plexiglas every year for sometime now.   The reason he stopped doing the plexi is because the spray work with the metallics is not too good for your health.  Although, we have considered that he could do just a few per year.  Bringing the plexi back, a style that really was very advanced and always appreciated by all, will be interesting for some of the larger international shows that we do.

He would do yours for $3,000.00 US as he will have to put the plexi higher once a few are available, as it will be hard to get a hold of them due to the decision to only do a few per year.  As we will be in New York December 7th till 14th and we have already a crate that will come from Toronto then we wont charge you for the shipping and handling as it will be in the case anyways.  The only thing is we will have to measure the crate upon return to Vancouver, it may be a couple of inches under 6 ft. — would that present a problem?

Paul works with a lot of metallics with this style, and as you know he can work with any color theme, let us know what you would like — you can mention certain colors and then Paul will work with that idea, otherwise just leave it up to him.

We would give you all rights to promote the play with the painting, not for a limited edition, but for any promotional material that you are using for your play.

Paul will paint your painting upon return to Vancouver, the week of November 9th.  You could pay us when you pick up the painting in New York.

Looking forward to reading more of your play.

Kind regards Paul and Joanne

Rich McMahon:

August 21, 2009

Hi Joanne,

Terrific news! I’m thrilled! So happy that you and Paul are enthusiastic about the project! Everything you mentioned sounds fine, thought it might be best to confirm the work’s estimated dimensions, framed vs unframed.

I will plan to email you a play synapses & color suggestions (e.g., I love what Paul has done with Cobalt blue), etc. in early Sept. I would be happy to also email a complete play script if you are interested, though I would not presume upon Paul’s time to read in full, for the work. Glad you are having a good time (albeit hot weather) in Sitges – look forward to meeting both you and Paul in Dec. in NYC.

All the Best,

– Rich

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