EDU CASTELS PORTAFOLIO
June 15 Portrait painting by Edu Castells Reviewed by Fire on the Lifeboat
The roots of portrait painting are to be found in Prehistoric times, but it came to really flourish as a prominent art-form in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The early twentieth century saw the artists’ portrait repertoire expand even further and, despite a fall in popularity towards the middle of the 20th century, portrait painting has once more undergone a revival at the start of the new millennium.
Eduard Castells NOISE space provides an excellent example not just of how far the portrait has come but also of how the internet is now being used to showcase art,. Taking the Dalai Lama, The Phantom and a wide range of characterised animals, Castells applies a unique touch to an age old process.
His NOISE showcase features a series of caricatures, portraits and studies of a wide range of subjects from superheroes to hipsters to misfits. Pictures of alienation, friendship and vice abound, but one thing really stands out in Castells’ work: personality and character. Idiosyncrasy and individuality shines from each picture, providing us with figures who all have a story.
The narrative aspect of Castell’s work grabs the attention; whether it’s the lechery of sweetheart, the uptight comedy of senhora, or the pathos of bighead, these are beautiful caricatures that have been brought to life by the artist’s talent. Castells shows himself to have a fine grasp of a variety of mediums, experimenting with pencil sketch delicacy as well as refreshing swathes of colour. The artist’s digital collages add an entirely new dimension to his work also, ensuring that he walks an expert line between Marvel comic-art, Picasso’s portraiture and Photoshop kitsch.
