Detalle de "Versatilidad de la física cuántica" 2014

Teddy Cobeña made this work, Detalle de "Versatilidad de la física cuántica", using techniques that feel to me like they are as much about building as painting, the layering and textures creating a complex surface. Looking closely, the face is divided by color. On one side, blues and teals give way to reds and pinks on the other. What is it about a face that invites this kind of division? The rough surface of the head is really what grabs my attention. It's as if Cobeña built this face from the ground up, adding layer upon layer of material to create a topography of texture. Look at the way the paint seems to crack and crumble, like dry earth. The physicality of the medium is undeniable; it's a surface begging to be touched. This contrast between color and texture, between building and painting, reminds me a little of the work of Anselm Kiefer, who also layers materials to create surfaces that feel both ancient and new. But Cobeña brings his own sensibility to the process, creating a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.