POPULAR MEXICAN ART
| INSPIRED IN THE REAL LIFE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. THESE ICONS WERE PRESENT IN BUS STOPS OF MEXICO CITY FOR A WHILE IF ONE DOES NOT PAINT, GOD DOES NOT LISTEN The art of Juan Carlos "El crayolas" Pérez Text: Rodrigo Varela.
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Juan Carlos "El Crayolas" Pérez is 24 years old and still lives with his family in Neza, México City.The nickname "Crayolas" comes from his home. His uncles started calling him that when in family gatherings, instead of being with his cousins he would be off in a corner drawing with "crayons". This lonelier, more reflexive attitude has nothing to do with shyness. Juan Carlos is a self confident, firm and direct guy. Sometimes he seems to avoid crowds or does not talk that much, it does not mean that he is being antisocial, but that he simply enjoys more and more that habit of spending time at ease with himself.His family has a humble origin. His grandparents were countrymen on the shore of the Texcoco lake. His father works as a mechanic at an automotive workshop, while his mother is basically a housewife, though she sells cosmetics to help.Juan Carlos interests are wide. His musical preferences, for instance, are diverse with an inclination towards music in Spanish, like Mexican rap and hip hop which he really enjoys. Though he is not very fond of reading, his favorite books are biographies as well as Mexican history, essays on Catholicism and comics. He is Roman Catholic and a believer, though he does not go to mass every Sunday. When Juan Carlos was a child, a priest sexually abused him. Nevertheless this event doesn't seem to have made him resentful of religion, not even of priests.Owner of a peculiar understanding, and with a capacity for forgiveness, he says he had success in harmonizing this episode like a message of his life that also allowed him to learn. Though, this originated a constant reflection and curiosity towards religion and sex issues, and the difficult but unavoidable relationship between both of them. From a first impression Juan Carlos could be seen as naïve. His artwork, like his attitude towards life shows transparency and authenticity. He tries, with his paintings, to transmit his feelings, even to explain them from a reflective perspective, even an almost philosophic questioning. Juan Carlos is a well adjusted person. Transparent in his feelings, genuine with himself and with others.The question is: why does he like to use "exvotos" (prayer paintings) for his art?More than a decision it is a habit from him. He started to imitate this format some years ago in pencil drawings. He wanted to tell short stories with an eloquent, short and clear link. He thinks "exvotos" are a true way for representing Mexico, why not use Mexican art forms to explain how Mexico is instead of importing foreign techniques?México has been explained and presented with the use of "exvotos", Juan Carlos states. He also believes that his country and his reality can still be shown from them, with variations and including more topics in this traditional format.Sex, religion, poverty, injustice and racism are recurring issues among his work. In it, Juan Carlos tries to talk about what is not regularly talked about in México: the real difficulties of escaping poverty, the structural daily corruption, almost domestic, as well as the deep and complex racism and classism phenomena that exist in present day México. The humor, even if we may think we can find it in various works, is something that we cannot guarantee, and much less if we are talking about Juan Carlos, who doesn't laugh very easily. Though he is warm and kind, he is serious and discret.With his work he pretends to foster reflection about issues he consider to be important. Here is when he shows his edge, his sharpness, always trying to "touch the wound". He is a critic where he considers one has to be and nevertheless he is not driven by a "witch hunt", but by the desire to stimulate a reflection that detonates a slow change.His criticism is not an outburst of defiance, but a suggestion. He looks for a solution that comes out of reflection, not the revengeful punishment that comes out of indignation. On the other hand, it is a form of keeping a link with a very Mexican traditional expression.Even if he is neither an expert, nor a skeptic towards some tendencies in contemporary art, "el Crayolas" expresses himself the way he does, basically because he recognizes the clear, direct and didactic character that the "retablo" or "exvoto" allows.But, what is his feeling towards contemporary art?Juan Carlos wants to communicate contemporary art in a more subtle (and didactic) fashion, he thinks that in contemporary art one has to see the work, the title and in this manner try to give a meaning that many times is not clear. This is the reason why Juan Carlos likes the "exvoto" technique, because he thinks that with the image and words, the message is clear at the very moment it is interpreted. His intention is not to suggest an abstract idea from an abstract work that needs to be interpreted.His work is not closed but open, open to everyone. He wants to communicate to start a reflection. In this sense he is not afraid of being outside the mainstream and vanguard, neither afraid of been called "elemental"."El Crayolas" doesn't try to establish a link to New York with his work, but with his own society. Though he does not talk that much, his work speaks for him all the time.If you are interested in knowing more deeply the work of Juan Carlos "El Crayolas" Pérez, you can contact him at this address:
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