Emporio Moffa: Ladies in a Surrealistic Landscape

Monday, March 16, 2009

Ladies in a Surrealistic Landscape

Ladies in a Surrealistic Landscape
at emporiomoffa

An early 1989 Moffa mixed-media work, "Ladies in a Surrealistic Landscape" represents my transition from small canvas panel compositions to working with small and mid-sized pre-stretched canvas as a support for my acrylic painting and collage expressions.

Most likely the first execution of my layered dematerialization effect painting and wash style, the abstract background become a surreal setting for the foreground paper appliques. Theatrical in simplicity, this work utilizes a style akin to loosely painted stage backdrops with the "actors" of the image in the foreground.

The 'Ladies' of the image, are xerographically reproduced line-art illustrations from 1920's fashion illustrations, closely cropped and colored wiht marker before applied with acrylic mediums in contrived groupings to imply an outdoor reception or gathering.

Playing on my liking for art deco design, surrealistic art as well as film and television dramatization of Jazz Era society, this work gathers disparate design elements and creates a whole.

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Artist's Statement

I consider myself more of a constructor of visual images than a painter because of the conceptual nature and non-traditional depiction methods employed in the creation of my work.

I'm inspired by art movements such as fauvism, surrealism, abstract expressionism and pop art as well as early 20th century advertising illustration and photographic imaging. Architectural, Fashion and Design concepts are integral to my creative process.

My approach to image-making uses graphic design and collage composition as well as painterly washes and brush strokes in an accumulative process more akin to architecture than traditional painting.

My mixed-media work is often media reflexive and postmodern. The combination of color, paper, printed mater and photographic images are often combined to present and re-communicate visual samples in new ways.

My purely abstract works involve contrasting and or complimentary colors, line, form, massing, painterly washes and detailing. The overall effects connotative of mood, motion or illusory depth.