Description
The art works from Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada from the Fragments series are created on very old, multilayered wall paint surfaces. The artist has perfected a process that allows him to remove old interior wall paint surfaces from abandoned buildings to use as his canvases. Each unique, textured surface used in this body of work is at least 150 years old. All pieces are framed under matte glass and painted with acrylic wash and charcoal.
The significance of this work lies within the importance given to the weathered and worn urban surfaces for their intrinsic value. While most walls surfaces touched by a restoration technique have some kind of tangible historic importance (frescos or murals), in Fragments, Jorge gives importance to these commonplace textures for the intangible memory that they possess and the passage of time that they portray.
Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada is a Cuban American contemporary artist.
Culture Jamming
Jorge is a founder of the New York Culture Jamming movement and an innovator in the international urban art scene.
Icons
Since the late 90´s Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada has been replacing the faces of cultural icons chosen by advertisers with the faces of anonymous people to question the controls imposed on public space, the role models designated and the type of events that are guarded by the collective memory. Jorge’s unique direction was mentioned in Naomi Klein´s book No Logo and was a precursor of the use of anonymous portraits now common in street art.
Awareness
His spectacular interventions are created for the sake of bringing awareness to relevant social issues. His large scale time base works avoid negative impact on the environment, challenge the conformity in contemporary art and allow for a reflection that goes beyond the completion of the piece to focus in its concept, process, and the metaphor that comes forth because of the material chosen.
Make sure to check out this video that shows the wide variety of art works created by Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada.