Bringing Baroque Back
-San Antonio , Gabriel Diego Delgado
gabrieldelgadoartstudio@yahoo.com
gabrield@jrmooneygalleries.com
----As with any monumental and cultural emphasis; an overly distinguishing characteristic of a time, era or generation- its core principles make a cycle allotment; a.k.a “What comes around, Goes around”. Concluding a reintroduction of the signatory look and feel to a newer generation with radical epoch, fads and trends are inevitable. Every ten to twenty years art, fashion and music dips back into the proverbial historical archives to rejuvenate something distinguished from the past.
Today, Renaissance and the Baroque aesthetic are influencing many in the art industry- from framing to fashion, to art itself. The décor of heavily accentuated framing acts as eye candy and jeweled sculpture for the over emphasized art it is framing. Chiaroscuro, gilded molding accents, 24-k gold frames, traditional still life paintings, Catholic Iconology and the like are reemerging as a current trend in all aspects of the Art industry.
One such international artist who has tirelessly continued on, mastered and seemingly progressed with the traditional still-life chiaroscuro effect is Hungarian Painter, Ferenc Tulok. A Fine Art Craftsman, Tulok has achieved vivid color combinations, over-accentuated light and dark contrasts and radiant glows by perfecting his own discovery of painting on copper plating.
Lavender Lilies/ F. Tulok/ Oil on Copper/ 5" x 7"
“I was always thinking that people need beauty, and I can give some with my paintings… fashion is changing, but there always be a need for the beauty.” Tulok is quick to explain why he paints in such a signatory and dated style in the 21st century. Conscious of the elevated forefathers of classical painting- their reputation, high society norms, and aristocratic followings, Tulok knows his identity is in synch with such lineage. Noted, he remarks, “I always wanted to paint everything realistic. The roots of the realistic painting are in the Renaissance and Baroque. The masters of this technique were artisans. They worked for order, on a reasonably price. This way a lot of people could buy paintings to decorate their home. I follow the same way.” Adding, “I always wanted to emphasize the shadows in my painting. I love the vivid colors jumping out from the dark background; that is the reason why I paint so much contrast. As an internationally collected Fine Art artist, Ferenc Tulok makes a point to remark on today’s society and the needed instant satisfaction, the shortened attention spans and now dubbed (hurry-up I need it now) mentality when discussing the trend in a return to the Classical Renaissance or the elegance of Baroque in the current Art Market- “Nowadays people have no time to be thinking about a painting, they can’t see what is really behind a painting, - {Criticizing contemporary art} But a nicely painted flower, fruit or anything can make some happiness, ever for a few minutes.”
Peach in a Shell/ F. Tulok/ Oil on Copper/ 5" x 7"
Timeless Tribute/ F. Tulok/ Oil on Copper/ 8" x 10"
Similarly, San Antonio based and internationally recognized painter, Steven DaLuz, whose work often relies on the use of oil on copper leaf, composition gold leaf, chemically-induced patinas, and other mixed media on panel, has enjoyed phoenominal success in the past two years with a recent sold-out exhibition at the AnArte Gallery on Broadway. Steven connects his artistic achievements in the current art market to a need for positivity, beauty and a call for for personal connection.
"Descent"; oil, Metal Leaf on Panel; 60" x 48"; Copyright 2011, S. DaLuz
"I think we live in a time where people are bombarded daily with bad news; wars in the Middle East , global unrest, election battles, economic woes--a steady diet of "doom and gloom". We are riddled with an overload of instant information through the internet, our mobile phones and a plethora of digital devices.” Steven’s audience, collectors, and appreciators seem to gravitate to his many bodies of work. Steven reflects, “…..I strive to create work that I am personally passionate about...work that I hope will make the viewer pause for a moment and just FEEL something. I hope to connect with a person by focusing on my own expression of aesthetic "beauty". It often reflects upon primal questions about origins, the expressive beauty of the human figure and the sublime. If there is something in the work that connects with a viewer and stirs their spirit in some way, then I have done my job.”
With the sublime, Renaissance, and Baroque qualities trending in the market Steven observations, “I enjoy a bit of Romanticism in my work.” Coining his work "Neo-Luminism", Steven draws from the Renaissance experience with the laborious draftsmanship and technical expertise of Flemish and Romanticism technique. His paintings are “made to be viewed in the light to exploit the reflective properties of the metal. The gold and copper function alternatively as both solid physical form and light. As light passes through the veils of oil, it bounces off the underlying reflective surface, and bounces back with a glow that seems to come from inside the painting.” This quality or ornate visual epiphanies are a wonderful crowd-pleaser in an over abundant contemporary art society.
"Arise"; oil, Metal Leaf on Panel; 36" x 36"; Copyright 2012, S. DaLuz
Sentinel"; oil, Metal Leaf on Panel; 36" x 36", Copyright 2010, S. DaLuz
Not only is the visual art realm feeling the reassurance of the Baroque ornate classical Renaissance, but other aspects of the Fine Art industry has seen an overwhelming trend too. Larson-Juhl, a company that specializes in custom framing and custom frame moulding said that two of their biggest sellers nationwide are the more ornate and gilded lines of framing. They remarked that “framing is the eye jewelry for the art”…”or the art for the art, so the more impact it has with the art the better, and the more it draws your attention into the frame to the art the more staying power and presence it [the art] has.”
Moulding and Framing Sample available at J.R. Mooney Galleries of Fine Art
As remarked from several personalities of the San Antonio Art Community, many believe with the continuing presence of a long-lived and strong Contemporary Art Market, there is a monumental backlash from conceptual, kitsch and nonacademic work- resulting in a push for a new understanding, reevaluation and redefined Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque genre; one that pushes and evolves the classical understanding of the much revered movement.
Ferenc Tulok’s artwork can be seen at J.R. Mooney Galleries at 8302 Broadway, San Antonio, TX. 78209 ph. 210.828-8214. Steven DeLuz’s artwork can be seen at AnArte Gallery at 7959 Broadway Street #404 San Antonio , TX 78200
©Gabriel Diego Delgado
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