Cycle

Introduction

Torn-edged aesthetics feature significantly in the works of Miami-based artist Daniel Marin. Much like segments from multi-layered billboards, his paintings consist of superimposed and torn papered layers, which combine to repeatedly evoke unexpected sensory contexts. Image and text meld in audacious, multiple connotations. Marin consciously arranges his works to create the illusion of being directed by chance. The intricacy of visual and linguistic expression is based on an arduous manual process of production. Techniques such as décollage, screen printing and hand-drawn graphics are incorporated into the final work in a complex sequence of steps.

The background is for the most part wood, which is first primed before being worked into elaborate compositional and narrative layers. Paint, templates, comic strips, scraps of newspaper – there are apparently endless materials that can be used. The artist draws inspiration when travelling, often incorporating unusual experiences and life’s lessons into his works. Language games permeate the pictures much like invisible threads. Words and slogans virtually inconspicuously alter their meanings no sooner than a letter becomes barely visible or cut.

Arranged in the form of a diptych, his works resemble a dialogue, a flirtation or love story between two otherwise discrete paintings. Colour and graphics connote opposite sexes. The slogan separated through the middle binds both works and at the same time can be read in multiple fractured senses. The meaning of the whole differs according to how the words are paused or are even only partially written out. Marin plays with our perceptions, taking relish in combining several different pop-cultural visual languages with the authentic flair of the street and the incidental.


ABOUT THE ARTIST

Daniel Marin is a self-taught artist who began his artistic journey by emulating comic
illustrators of the 80s and 90s - many of whom he considered role models. He was a quick
study, acquiring extensive knowledge in the field of graphic design and broadening his
artistic horizons. Marin’s constant objective was to blend classical techniques with
contemporary methods. Today he is a sought-after artist, both within the US and beyond,
recognized primarily for his distinctive imagery.

Bio

Daniel Marin, born 1982, Florida, USA.
Lives and works in Miami.
The mixed media artist combines a range of traditional and contemporary art making materials ranging from paints to carpentry and décollage, all made up of elements including Pop imagery, street art, graphic design and commercial advertisements to depict colorful and surreal moments in time.

Exhibitions

2021	Superfine! Art Fair 2020 – Seattle, USA
2020	4th Biennial Visual Impressions Juried Show, Ryan James Fine Art (Gallery) – Seattle, USA Living Artist Collective – ‘Open House Show’ – Seattle, USA
2020	Seattle City Light Collection, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Seattle, USA
2019	Shunpike Storefronts, Seattle, USA GROSS Magazine // RELISH – Travelling Art Program, Seattle, USA Artist Trust, Seattle, USA
2018	Site:Brooklyn Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, USA Bemis Arts, Seattle, WA Contemporary Art Gallery Online, 2018 "ALL Paintings" Art Competition – 8th

Interview

When did you become interested in art? How did it all begin?
My journey as an artist began at a very young age when I would try to draw the cartoons and characters I was obsessed with watching every Saturday morning as a child. Illustration eventually gave way to experimenting with different techniques, mediums and ideas which established my fundamentals for what is shaping up to be a life-long pursuit of creative expression.

How would you describe your work process?
My pieces are a culmination of distinct layers brought together  to make a single image. While my body of work projects a sense of chaos and disorder in the composition, my process of creating is quite meticulous and follows a reverse engineering approach, with each layer requiring a distinct technique in order to progress the visual narrative of the piece.

Who inspires you?
More than any individual person, I draw inspiration from other creators - musicians, story tellers, artists - and from everyday interactions and conversations with people.

Which artists/works of art are you particularly impressed with at the moment?
I’m often going between the artists of today and learning about artists of the past. As of late I have been following the work of American artist Mark Bradford whose work has been really impactful for me, specifically his approach to bridging abstraction and text. One past artist whose work I have really enjoyed exploring is Tamara De Lempicka and her iconic Art Deco works which continue to impress to this day.

What distinguishes a good work of art?
I see visual art as having a relationship with its viewer and environment, with good works of art able to create a relationship that engages its surroundings in a way that generates emotions and thoughts. Depending on the viewer, sometimes the reaction can be positive or negative, but it’s the ability for a work to create that emotion rather than be ignored or overlooked that makes it good.

What project are you working on at the moment?
I have been focused on a small works series that uses both a visual and written narrative in an attempt to use art as a vehicle for emotional support and healing for people impacted by adversity. It’s my first attempt at using my art as a form of helping people push back on the challenges they or someone close to them may be facing.

What is the purpose of art?
For the artist, to express. For the viewer, to interpret. In the end I feel art is all about creating an opportunity to tap into new emotions and perhaps form a perspective that wasn’t previously clear.

Does art bring about happiness?
I think art can bring about a full range of emotions, from anger to elation, and that’s the point. A given work of art can trigger any number of reactions that are unique to one person, with the right visual expression having the ability to bring out the best emotions in a person.