‘Anthropo-Lysosomes’ Series
This series of artworks combines biological concepts and artistic expression with memories, thoughts, and experiences dictated by the subconscious. In other words, it integrates biology, art, and psychology. Throughout the works, I have used diverse techniques to emphasize different aspects of a single concept: biological destruction. From a biological point of view, the series represents the lysosome—the ‘stomach’ of the cell—which contains enzymes capable of digesting a wide range of biomolecules. Therefore, the painting illustrates the process of catabolism and degradation that occur within the lysosome. In the composition, this main element is framed by various recognizable cellular compartments: mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and a multilamellar vesicle. As in my previous painting, ‘Anthropomorphic Interpretation of Lysosome 1’, the presence of anthropomorphic figures inside the lysosome is an artistic resource to increase the empathy of the viewer, facilitating the comprehension of the underlying biological concepts. These anthropoid figures also represent thoughts, memories, and people from my life. From a psychological standpoint, by creating these paintings, I aimed to understand and elaborate on events from my past. A novelty that this series has in comparison to my other paintings is the gradual destruction, from painting to painting, of the content inside the lysosome, highlighting the intrinsic processes of degradation associated with this organelle. The lysosome is no longer static, and throughout the paintings, the human figures disintegrate themselves, like a trauma that is elaborated and gradually vanishes.
‘Anthropo-Lysosome 1’, 2023.
White gel ink pens and collage on paper, 30 x 30 cm.
This artwork was created using diverse mediums and a mixed technique, imparting a textile-like quality that catches and surprises the viewer. The palette, predominantly composed of brown, gray, and green tones, evokes a sense of solitude and isolation.
‘Anthropo-Lysosome 2’, 2023.
Markers and fineliner on paper, 30 x 30 cm.
In this particular piece, I employed a vibrant and contemporary palette, predominantly featuring red, orange and blue tones. Unlike the other works in the series, this painting is characterized by the presence of a large number of small circles in the background representing ribosomes. This feature gives the painting a dense and baroque feel.
‘Anthropo-Lysosome 3’, 2024.
Markers, fineliner, and collage on paper, 30 x 30 cm.
The palette in this painting is very simple, consisting mainly of yellow and dark gray tones. I used a dotting technique with fineliners to highlight some elements in the composition and create a sense of volume.
‘Anthropo-Lysosome 4’, 2024.
Watercolor on paper, 30 x 30 cm.
This painting is inspired by the colors and forms of Italian Futurism from the early 20th century. The palette used to create this painting consists of bright primary colors: highly saturated hues of red and yellow, contrasting with some light blue tones. The presence of white and black intensifies the contrast. Additionally, the painting features straight lines and fragmented forms, differing from the rounded shapes of the characteristic organic matrix that I typically use in my paintings (see ‘Anthropomophic Interpretation of Lysosome 1’).
‘Anthropo-Lysosome 5’, 2024.
Decoupage, marker and acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30 cm.
This work explores artistic expression through symbolism and written language. It incorporates newspapers from both Argentina, my home country, and Germany, where I currently reside. The background, representing the cytoplasm, is in German, as this is the context in which my life now takes place. Conversely, the main cellular structures were created from newspapers in Spanish, reflecting the basic experiences of my life in Argentina. Within the ‘lysosome’, key words convey memories and concerns, alongside anthropomorphic figures made up of words. The main elements of this painting were created using markers and acrylic paint. I chose to highlight the lysosome with a shadow effect, creating the illusion that it is elevated above the rest of the composition.