Requests

The series Peticionarias start in 2003. A key concept is presented here: the act of illuminating or lighting up a desire.

As light is essential for the vision, illumination makes vision possible. On that general basis, I produced a series of images where candles are used as a pretext to play with the light that flickers. The candle reflects the fleetingness of time and its finality is to enlighten us about the reality of this fleetingness. The light is the energy concentrated on the flame that expands towards its surrounding space, creating ambiances and an atmospheric painting built from concentrations and expansions of colour, fluxes of light, turning spirals that twist, creating movement and energy circuits.

Illumination is presented as a metaphorical act of desire. In many different cultures, a flame is often lit to safeguard a long awaited dream. While the flame is lit, the wish prevails, the hope of a request being granted, a desire for something to happen and also a memory longed to be prolonged in time. The titles of the images make reference to this idea of petition: a healing candle, a candle for bravery, a candle for a son, a candle for protection, a candle for happiness, etc. This way, illuminating becomes an invocation act as it leads desire towards one direction. The flame is the visual representation of a petition for a wish to be granted.

Each painting represents not only a petition but it is also an act of faith. The certainty that keeping that flame will impregnate the canvas with a power that will lead us towards the claimed desired.

The image of a ritually lit candle has also the capacity of creating a link between the body of desire and the enigma of the perpetual.

First, I photograph an oil painting that is later transformed using a computer program. Finally, I print it on a canvas and apply a glossy varnish finish.