Untitled 1980

This painting by Jorge Camacho is like entering a surreal, sun-baked landscape, rendered in shades of red, orange, and earthy tones. Imagine Camacho, brush in hand, layering washes of color to conjure up this otherworldly scene. It’s as if the painting came into being through a process of excavation, each layer revealing hidden forms and enigmatic figures. I sympathize with the artist here. I wonder, was Camacho thinking about the desert when he made this? Maybe he wanted to create a feeling of heat and desolation, with these figures emerging out of the landscape. I love how the stark white lines create an almost archaeological feel to the painting. They feel ancient, like the walls of caves. I think what makes this work so alluring is that the figures also look contemporary. They are both old and new, and in that meeting, there's a real tension. Camacho is in conversation with artists across time who seek to embody their inner visions on canvas. These conversations inspire and push creativity forward, and the results are rarely fixed. It's all open to interpretation.