Insiders' Art Profiles: A Diabolical Passion For Creating

By Pascual Hijuelos

Artists in general possess a diabolical passion for creating.  It is ingrained in their psyche regardless of the discipline be it dance, writing, the visual arts or music.  It is a compulsive need to create, and without it many would probably vaporize.  San Miguel has many individuals who are not artists but have this quality. Ernesto Pérez is a fascinating example of someone who, despite not identifying as an artist in the traditional sense, possesses that passion for creation. For years Ernesto has gotten up at 4:00 every morning and gone to his rooftop studio where he proceeds to methodically apply paint dots using toothpicks to everyday objects, transforming them into beautiful works of art using overall patterns and color.

This process is not unique. The Persians established the all over geometric design in the 7th and 8th centuries, making it a defining feature in Islamic art. More recently Larry Poons in the 1970s and 80s, explored dot paintings as part of his artistic evolution. In the early 21st century, Damien Hirst produced his own series of dot paintings and today, Yayoi Kusama dominates the art world with her iconic dot motifs.

In a recent interview with Ernesto I asked him several questions regarding his work.

PH: Why dots?

EP: Two reasons: I can't draw; and it's about the colors - I love the contrasts, the colliding, there's a point in combining colors where there is a "pop" - a vibrant energy just happens that is so exciting.

PH: In what way are they like you?

EP: I don't know; I've never thought about that. As a Mexican born in "Occupied Mexico" (i.e., California) Facundo Cabral's song, "No soy de aquí ni soy de alla" resonates in me. So, my sense of being lost in a world of confusion, being from neither here nor there, are central to my sense of self. In that way, my dots on dots on dots evoke that sense while at the same time sharing a universe that is infinite.

PH: In what way is the process like you?

EP: I've never thought about "process". Firstly, it begins with the material I'm painting - I do chairs, spoons, a couple of tables, bed head boards, clay hearts, a couple of pieces of clothing (shirts and vests), canes - almost all wood and all made in Mexico. I consider my work to be an homage to Mexico so it's not about me; it's about waiting for the shapes of wood to tell me what base colors to start with - I mostly like rich deep colors (black, dark blue, reds, dark greens) although I sometimes will start with yellows, oranges, lavender or lime green. Then, I start dotting; looking for contrasting colors that make the bases "pop." I do the dots with toothpicks and sawed-off paint brush handles. I just go until there's no available space. I love putting dots within dots - usually 4 to 6 different layers on any space. With this multi-layered effect and using more than 50 colors a physicist friend once told me that I have about 25 million combinations so I never worry about redundancy or similarities.

PH: What rewards do you reap?

EP: I recently woke up at around 2:30 a.m. and said to Patrice, "I must love painting. Why else would I get up at ungodly hours every day to paint?" My first reward is Patrice's praise. Her praise assures me that I'm doing something worthwhile. My second reward is giving away baby chairs to Mexican families. I have given away 29 to date and my goal is 50. I have jokingly asked Patrice that if I die first and she has a memorial I would love for her to invite the 50 families and ask them to bring the chairs. The final reward is that my work feels like a good expression of my life - it celebrates the color and life of a country that I've chosen to return to, expressing my gratitude and admiration for Mexico in a nonverbal and appropriate manner without words because I have none.

PH: Is there an end in sight?

EP: No. One of the most powerful realizations I've had is that in my painting the concept of "finishing" is ridiculous.

Contact Ernesto throughAbrazos on Zacateros 24, SanMiguelDesigns.com

ErnestoOnTheRoad@yahoo.com

Cuban-American Pascual Hijuelos now divides his time between San Miguel de Allende, which has been his home for over twenty years, and New York City.

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