Artist Statement
Ubiquitous shapes found in my surroundings influence the work I create that I consider unique and intriguing. The patterns and techniques that emerge in my work are referred to as “Buffs”, and they enlighten shapes such as symmetrical, radical, ghosting and blur, which I observe on industrial cityscapes. Several of these stylistic forms have been identified by filmmaker Matt McCormick. My paintings are a reenactment of street walls. I start by recreating the textured walls, followed by the writing, and finish with the writing being removed by buffs using rollers and brushes, which represents the subconscious art of vandalism removal. Vandalism removal can be viewed as a valuable form of artistic expression, though not currently validated or recognized as such by the mainstream public. In my work, I create buffed images because they have their own shapes, styles, characteristics and stories behind them. When I compose my paintings, I use intuitive aesthetic thinking, imagining myself as two characters, one being the person defacing the property and the other being the city employee. I believe that art is purely subjective and consider art as not an act of imagination, but of observation, perception and manipulation. As an artist, I am attracted to the most nominal and simplistic shapes and forms. I create art because I love the motivation and satisfaction of tangible creativity. The feeling of being in the moment and seeing where it takes me is like no other.
Jel Martinez