Ampparito or the art of confusing the passer-by.
There’s been a refreshing revival of street art in recent years, all over the world and not just limited to urban areas. Spanish artist Ampparito is one of the artists who have taken street art to a new level of realism, wit and playfulness.
His work is large scale and site specific, using common objects in uncommon spaces to subvert the original meaning of the items and to create a new visual and conceptual experience.
Ampparito presents himself on his website as an artist who: “works to subvert objects, meanings and realities to generate new experiences or situations. These can give rise to a wide range of results, from the most absolute indifference to the most profound reflection, through disorientation or contemplation”.
The reader who takes the time to read these few words will be able to detect the malice and dissonance with which the artist conceives his interventions.
An adept of trompe-l’œil and diversion, Ampparito embarks the passer-by in his playful delirium to the point of making him completely forget the wall that hosts them.
In this perspective, the wall acquires another function, “implying or creating the dynamics of its overcoming”.
The works feature ubiquitous objects and thus have a strong sense of familiarity, making the viewer instantly connect to the works and reflect, smile, and admire.
The ‘Murals’ series includes artworks that are amusing, like the painting of a huge Metro Madrid pink ticket in an anonymous area in London, undoubtedly eliciting confused reactions as well as knowing smiles from passersby. Others tackle aspects of the everyday, human nature or even deeper social and economic issues. “
For VAF7 in 2021 Ampparito accomplished 2 murals. The main work is a small building, which controls the flow of water from the lake situated a little further away, perched on the edge of the forest at the bend in the path.
The artist has covered it with black lines of various dimensions, arched or long and repetitive, on an immaculate white background, interrupted only by the dark red of the door and window frames.
Everything is part of the work, even the planted tree trunk in front of the building or the old tree roots on the side.
The viewer looks on and is confused, he has the impression that the lines are moving before his eyes. When trying to take a picture with a digital camera, a moiré effect will appear in your screen as the pattern is inspired by the camouflages of the automotive industry.
The second piece, “Hasta Pronto”, is a wink with a little smiley to the user of the gondola, who is likely to return down to Spain? 😛
