Otherworldly Forms: The Art Portfolio of Osvaldo Mesa
Osvaldo Mesa creates abstract artworks that deal with otherworldly forms. Working primarily in oil paint, Osvaldo’s bizarre yet detailed forms subvert his viewer’s expectations of abstraction and surrealism in painting.
A passing glance, oil on canvas
As we discussed in our previous feature of Osvaldo’s surreal forms, there’s a palpable sense of symbolism in these paintings – the artist embraces an aesthetic that hearkens to classic surrealism, like the work of Rene Magritte or Salvador Dali. Though Osvaldo’s figures are not recognizable, they do function within his works as figures. Especially in the way that they’re painted with careful blending and detailed shapes and volumes.
There’s a certain biological and organic sense to these figures – many of the paintings call to mind organs, skin, bodies. Occasionally, an undercurrent of sexuality is present. Osvaldo’s backgrounds don’t spell anything out for the viewer. When the artist does include other figures (often just as bizarre) they seem very deliberate – as if the artist is sending his viewers a specific message to be decoded.
