Jose Castiella

In his work, José Castiella (Pamplona, 1987) explores, through a constant speculation with his materials, the possibility of new life forms after collapse. This ongoing research reflects and expresses his own concerns regarding the unknown. He proposes the generation of a new world, as a way of mirroring the current one.

The artist's characters arise as a result of accident and chance in an entropic process in which poured paint and mark-making are transferred to the linen canvas on the floor of his studio. Once dried, and with the canvas on the wall, characters start to appear. This leads to a form of narration through representation. The paint itself suggesting life and content.

Castiella's practice is rich in references to art history and popular culture alike. Each composition's population of paint-characters connects  conversely with Hieronymus Bosch and isometric RPG videogame aesthetics.  Likewise, the tragic-comic appearance of the work seems to undergo some of the cosmic terror of H.P Lovecraft, melted into the influence of Yōkai, Moebius, and Studio Ghibli anime.

This is a world with the appearance of sci-fi, that seems to tell us about our hidden impulses, an inner journey, or the fear of the unknown.