Melannie Torres

Curatorial Rationale

From the moment we rise to the moment we lay, we go through a personal cycle of comfortability; a routine. Through my artwork, I convey the emotions and expressions I would feel if that comfort were to disappear. From using non-traditional materials to censoring my senses, I sought to enhance this release. I became vulnerable and uncertain as I created art, but through embracing the uncertainty, I became motivated and found comfort. My work is an examination of the various forms that portray the release of perfectionism. Furthermore, it explores the concept of juxtaposing emotions and relationships. Through each artwork’s meaning and sense of arrangement, the audience is able to follow my journey of release as they learn to reflect, imagine, and experience certain emotions and uncertainty as they seek relief.

My exhibition is composed of nine artworks that each represent a portion of the journey I took in releasing my habits of perfectionism. Each artwork is arranged to not only communicate their significance of the journey from an exterior to an interior point of view but also have the audience follow my journey without alignment, further enhancing the purpose of the exhibition and forcing the break of their own habits of perfectionism.

Monumental Mind, inspired by Kazuo Shiraga consists of two acrylic paintings about meditation and the imagined place in which one proceeds to be in when feeling relaxed. Both artworks were created in an untraditional manner, using my hands and feet to explore a contrasting effect of the sentiment relief. By using specific hues and texture, I intended to enhance the viewer’s imagination, allowing them to feel this emotion. The second painting, located between the first artwork and Poetic Waves is significant as it details a cracking texture directing the audience to view its layers, communicating imperfection and causing discomfort as the overall tone is warm. Poetic Waves, inspired by Mary Abbott, is an oil pastel and watercolor painting created by censoring my visual and auditory senses as I enhance my imagination and increase my ability to release my habits of perfectionism. Through the use of the elements: color, line, and texture the audience is encouraged to use their imagination and analyze the uncertainty that forms to find relief. Overall, these techniques allowed me to move away from the comfort my senses provided me.

Emotionally Connected, inspired by Robert Rauschenberg, is an abstract acrylic painting on a bedsheet. This work is a transitioning piece, located in the center of all works and has the largest scale in size indicating to the viewer its significance and where my journey began. Sentimental Thoughts, inspired by Wassily Kandinsky and Uplifting Sins inspired by Michel Keck both focus on releasing habits of perfectionism through exploring and further analyzing relationships. Sentimental Thoughts consists of a diptych of acrylic paintings created by listening to music. However, as both artworks are seen as juxtaposed works the audience has to use their imagination and will be forced into an uncomfortable situation in which they have to think and use the tone of the artwork to find comfort. Uplifting Sins consists of a water and acrylic colored background with a bible verse written on its surface. I was able to release habits of perfectionism not only through the technique I used but through exploring my relationship with my religion. Overall, all three artworks disrupted the comfort in my relationships but through creating art and practicing ways of distraction, I was able to release that fear and feel relief. These artworks were created at the beginning of this journey with the intention of having the audience feel discomfort as they explore my personal relationships.

Subdue Focus, inspired by Janine Antoni and Looking Beyond the Blemishes, best summarize my exhibition. From having to be vulnerable; painting with my hair and on my knees to having to draw a variety of blind contours, I was able to lose that fear of imperfection. Having the blind contours of myself shows that I have moved on from constantly feeling comfortable to feeling uncomfortable to then feeling confident. I want the audience to be able to use their imagination and emotions to interact, communicate, and find comfort in what is uncertain.

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Monumental Mind

Acrylic paint on canvas

112 x 60 cm (each canvas is 18x24")

When looking at the work Kazuo Shiraga created with his feet, I became inspired by the use of various hues creating a peaceful tone. Motivated to create art in the same manner, I used the concept of meditation, nature, and imagination to enhance this effect. I closed my eyes and without thinking began painting with my feet. I was inspired by the ocean, nature and its warmth to which I created two juxtaposed works. The cracking found throughout the second canvas represents the layers of peace.

Available, minimum bid $25 (sold as pair, but open to selling separately)

Monumental Mind

Detail 1

Monumental Mind

Detail 2

Poetic Waves

Oil pastels, oil colored pencils, and watercolor paint on watercolor paper

45.72 cm x 60.96 cm

Inspired by Mary Abbott’s concept, the poetry of space, nature, and use of line, I created a mixed media painting using my hands while being blindfolded. I used oil pastels, oil colored pencils, and watercolor as I listened to the sounds of waves crashing. I wanted to analyze the relationship between nature and sound using my imagination. As Abbott’s work persuaded me to analyze it in-depth, I encourage the audience to do so as well to formulate their own opinion of my work.

Available, minimum bid $20

Looking Beyond the Blemishes

Charcoal pencil and pastel on paper

66 x 147cm (each individual piece is approximately 12x18")

Being a perfectionist is difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming. Through this series of blind contours, I sought to enhance the concept of acceptance of imperfections. I sought to lose the fear of what is uncertain, unexpected and not controllable. I set up a mirror, sat down and began experimenting with various types of charcoal materials. I created multiple blind contours but I chose six drawings to summarize what it is to release habits of perfectionism.

Available, minimum bid $15 each (sold individually, use numbers in the title slot as indicated below)

Emotionally Connected

Acrylic paint on bed sheet

271.175 cm x 119.38 cm

Inspired by Gerhard Richter’s abstract piece, Bed, 1995, I sought to establish the same concept and create an untraditional piece to tell a personal story. The story revolves around the hardships and emotions my mother and I had experienced and overcame. This piece was created on a bedsheet as it symbolizes growth out of childhood and the setting in which my mother and I held our deepest conversations. I used my hands to paint and with each hue and gestural mark, shows an emotion experienced.

Available, minimum bid $20

Emotionally Connected

Detail 1

Emotionally Connected

Detail 2

Sentimental Thoughts

Acrylic paint on canvas

111 x 40cm

Emotions are a part of who we are and can influence our thoughts and decisions. This diptych of paintings show what art can be when you let a distraction do its job; distract you. These artworks relate to the concept of growing up a perfectionist but overcoming that habit as an expressionist. These paintings were created listening to music but are juxtaposed as one proceeds to be neat and organized as opposed to the second piece that includes a variety of hues, shapes, and imperfections.

Left Piece Available, minimum bid $15 (right piece is not for sale)

Uplifting Sins

Acrylic paint and water on paper

45.72 cm x 60.96 cm and 30.48 cm x 45.72 cm

116 x 45cm

The Yin and Yang symbolize the balance and unity of the good and bad in life. Inspired by unfortunate events, I sought to find relief through practicing my religion. In creating this artwork, I mixed acrylic paint with water, dabbing it on the surface of the paper creating texture. Through adding continuous shades of brown, black, and yellow paint, layers formed to represent the transition of emotions. In white ink, a Bible verse by Matthew 7:7 is imprinted to represent the sentiment of relief.

Available, minimum bid $25 sold as pair, but open to selling separately

Uplifting Sins

Detail 4

Uplifting Sins

left piece

Uplifting Sins

right piece

Subdue Focus

Acrylic paint and hair strands on canvas

40.64 cm x 50.8 cm

My work is an illustration that expresses vulnerability and was motivated by the multiple arguments that took place between my brothers and me due to the hair strands they would find in the shower. Inspired by Janine Antoni’s Loving Care, this work was painted using my hair and camouflaged within are strands of hair from multiple women. The purpose of this work is to make the viewer feel disgusted because as a result, I feel inspired, motivated, and powerful.

Available, minimum bid $15

Subdue Focus

Detail 1

Subdue Focus

Detail 2

Layers of Relief

Acrylic paint and napkin on canvas

27.94 cm x 35.56 cm

Originally consisting of neon green and coral pink hues, I sought to create an intentional abstract and textured piece to continue releasing my habits of perfectionism. I began adding paint to create layers not focused on the hues I used. Then I used a napkin for its texture as I removed paint to show all layers. The red hue is significant as it was used to create a type of pattern and form another layer of texture as the thickness of paint dripped downwards, a symbol of release.

Available, minimum bid $10

Serene Awakening

Acrylic paint and water on canvas

25.4 cm x 25.4 cm

Inspired by the concept of heaven, I created this artwork as a reflection of the lightness I felt in my heart. The purpose of this artwork is to encourage inspiration in oneself and others. Serene Awakening was created using a mixture of water and acrylic paint and then a dabbing motion technique. As one of the last paintings, the intention was to be a fulfilling painting and encourage peace and one’s use of imagination.

Available, minimum bid $10

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Contact the artist at mtorre020@gmail.com

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