Ariela Martinez

“What is your favorite artwork?”

Curatorial Rationale - Loss of Purpose

The key components in all my art pieces are very similar to one another. In all of my works you’ll see a recurring theme of emptiness. The subjects of each piece emote a sense of absence as though they have all lost their individual purposes. My intentions were to capture the pain and lack of life that each character has experienced. In two of my art works, the character's emptiness are metaphorically represented through a physical separation of an atomical component. I did this to exaggerate the agony each individual was going through. The purpose of my artwork was to study how a painful experiences can shape a person. 

I used several mediums in my artistic process. I used primarily acrylic to create physical textures and three dimensional interest. The sculptural wing base was made from cardboard and paper mache. I then covered it thickly in red and black acrylic. Sculpting with cardboard was a new medium I explored.  I questioned if the jagged edges would conflict with the softer style of the painted wing in the partnered painting. It ended up contributing contrast and working out perfectly with my theme. The two pieces, although very different, compliment each other. I find acrylic paint to be a medium that agrees with me and the emotion I intend to convey in my artworks.

 Through a dramatic and dark color palette I hoped to draw attention towards the deeper meanings of each piece. All of the artworks have red shades incorporated, however, in each work the red symbolizes different meanings and emotions. In my exhibition set up, the burnt wing is suspended above where Lucifer lies, showing the fate of his damaged wing. The center painting stares out at the audience inviting them to empathize what the emotional state conveyed in the artworks. The woman painted in red holds both heads upwards to guide viewers' eyes up and around all the artworks. I hope the people that view my work are able to feel the various types of  isolation portrayed in every piece.

Ariela’s Art Work

  • Swept by the Breeze

    Graphite, Watercolor

    30 cm by 45 cm

    Despite having only two weeks to work, I aimed to incorporate a unique and semi-realistic style into my art that emphasizes the principles of texture and value. To achieve this, I utilized jagged vertical brush strokes and paint splatter to create an incoherent yet captivating background and texture surrounding my figures.

  • A Woman Without a Heart

    Digital Art on Procreate

    38 cm X 50 cm

    This piece shows the central figure under a dramatic spotlight. She is unfazed, and even slightly amused, smirking for the portrait she's positioned for. There is a hole peeking through her chest, where her heart is expected to be. The strings of her top are ripped and crossing along where the empty pit was left. She feels no fear, no confusion, and continues to face ahead as normal. She is placed behind an unsettling red and black background, portraying the strength in her unwavering stature.

  • Who Am I?

    Acrylic On Canvas

    45cm x 38cm

    This painting displays a woman holding a head in her right hand and a skull with her left. Both of them represent the future outcomes awaiting in life. Past your teenage to early adult years everything changes as you experience the realities of your future. The woman is a bridgeway from your current self to the other inevitable issues and questions you have yet to face. I used a bold red to draw attention while also conveying a hectic feeling behind her solid expression.

  • Aftermath

    Aftermath

    Acrylic on Cardboard

    44.45 cm X 36.83 cm

    Aftermath is paired hand in hand with Lucifer’s Punishment. This wing represents the burned, damaged and jagged condition the angel's wing becomes once separated from God’s chosen. Unlike the smooth white wing on Lucifer in the previous painting, this wing is red and charred along the edges, the insides of it are cut open and flawed. The corners are sharp and aggressive, a complete opposit

  • Punishment

    Acrylic on canvas

    45 cm X 38 cm

    I centered my painting around the story of Lucifer’s banishment from heaven. His jealousy and rebellion of God result in his wings (holy honor) being gouged out. The white color of his hair, wings and the dagger, symbolize Purity and Divinity. Compared to the brooding details of his ribs and the pitch black, waiting for him in the background. My inspirational artwork Christ in the Garden motivated me to create this painting with my own touch of emotion, and biblical references.