Manuel Ocampo: Heridas De LA Lengua: Selected Works

Rating:
Summary: Post-Everything Mischief
Review: Inciting debate wherever He goes, Manuel Ocampo has been, for years, creating thought provoking paintings in and around the L.A area, in addition to International exhibitions . The use of Taboo symbols, such as the swastika, have landed Him in some hot water; after a curator viewed His work, He was refused a promised place in Documenta 9, for instance.Stylisticly, His work is reminiscent of the seedier side of Juxtapoz-esque painters but maintains a raw and expressive-almost folk art-element.Unlike orthodox lowbrow-ers (a should-be oxymoron eh?), His work touches upon contemporay issues in art: issues regarding multi-culturalism( He was born and raised in the Phillepines , employed at an early age as a painter of traditional religious imagery sold to tourists ), culturaly designated "evil" symbology, and the element which alienates Robert Williams fans the most: Art about art; the process and its ramifications.His work has an incredibly scatological quality to it which simultaneously repels and attracts.Unlike many practitioners of the subversive ,Ocampo employs solid reasoning for this practice; showcased well in the interview that book-ends this quality number.Along with the interview, Kevin Powers' essay provides the standout in the text dept. Well reproduced color plates are many, providing a well worth-it view of Manuel Ocampos' twisted yet highly intelligent world.

Rating:
Summary: Post-Everything Mischief
Review: Inciting debate wherever He goes, Manuel Ocampo has been, for years, creating thought provoking paintings in and around the L.A area, in addition to International exhibitions . The use of Taboo symbols, such as the swastika, have landed Him in some hot water; after a curator viewed His work, He was refused a promised place in Documenta 9, for instance.Stylisticly, His work is reminiscent of the seedier side of Juxtapoz-esque painters but maintains a raw and expressive-almost folk art-element.Unlike orthodox lowbrow-ers (a should-be oxymoron eh?), His work touches upon contemporay issues in art: issues regarding multi-culturalism( He was born and raised in the Phillepines , employed at an early age as a painter of traditional religious imagery sold to tourists ), culturaly designated "evil" symbology, and the element which alienates Robert Williams fans the most: Art about art; the process and its ramifications.His work has an incredibly scatological quality to it which simultaneously repels and attracts.Unlike many practitioners of the subversive ,Ocampo employs solid reasoning for this practice; showcased well in the interview that book-ends this quality number.Along with the interview, Kevin Powers' essay provides the standout in the text dept. Well reproduced color plates are many, providing a well worth-it view of Manuel Ocampos' twisted yet highly intelligent world.