"Inferno 2" Contemporary Abstract Botanical Conceptual Oil Painting

Description

This is an original one of a kind conceptual realistic oil painting by local San Diego artist, Perry Vàsquez. Its … more This is an original one of a kind conceptual realistic oil painting by local San Diego artist, Perry Vàsquez. Its dimensions are 22x72. It is unframed. This is the second in a series of 6.

The artist has depicted a palm tree on fire against an orange background. The artist uses a limited color palate of vibrant oranges, light orange, and a dark orange shade.

Vàsquez focuses primarily on his exploration of various iterations of palm trees. Ubiquitous in Southern California, and historically viewed as a provider of nourishment, shelter, and bounty, the trees in Vásquez’s paintings are instead framed in peculiar or dire scenarios. Many of the trees in his work are ablaze, or are actually cell towers that pose as a living palm. They are superbly painted with layers of color and detail; they have become anthropomorphized through their portraiture-style framing on the canvas and dance-like poses.

Vásquez explains, “I recall being shaken the first time I saw a burning palm tree. My response was to investigate the meaning of this phenomenon through painting and to work through my feelings of awe and dread. I want my paintings of palm trees to give viewers the idea they are standing at the base of a religious painting like a crucifixion or an annunciation. The mixture of violence and beauty seems very Christian to me and the message is similar: All things must pass. Our species can choose to protect and nurture life on our planet or we can waste it. The choice is ours.” less