“Cruzando LA Fontera/Crossing the Border” by artist Eriberto Oriol

“Cruzando LA Fontera/Crossing the Border” is one of the social commentaries paintings in “Are we dancing with a Madman?” series by artist Eriberto Oriol.

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For most people, crossing the border may be as simple as walking or driving across, however for an undocumented woman with little or no resources, it can be a treacherous journey.

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In this painting, the woman’s body has no arms or feet that maybe speak to the vulnerability and mutilation women around the world face in overcoming barriers not just in crossing borders. The textured body shows cuts and scratches that seem to emphasize the strenuous violent efforts she faces in this most difficult situation.

The image of a nopal/cactus with nails protruding on her crouch offers an interesting dichotomy. On one hand, the cactus represents strength, however in the same way as the cactus has thorns to protect the plant, maybe this type of armor could protect a woman from being raped. The roots from the cactus magnify how women are often uprooted by war, poverty, and violence.

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For Eriberto, the red-earth color face represents fertility and women’s bond with the earth. The woman’s beautiful stylized braids may also symbolize the rich cultures that these women usually represent. The stepladder is not only helping her to get over the barrier but it may also communicate a cry for help? The stark white background makes the issue very clear.

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Eriberto does not set out to paint these images or themes; he just gets in his creative zone and allows his characters to emerge. He realizes that by tapping into his creativity zone, it deepens the mystery and the magic in his art.

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Text by Angelica Oriol

Are we dancing with a Madman?

This is a series of paintings with social commentaries that speak of the rage of power, the screams of the victim and invisible erased souls begging not to be forgotten. “The Rage of Power” is one of the social commentaries paintings in the series “Dancing with a Madman” by artist Eriberto Oriol.
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When I first saw this painting it made me think of the main character’s rage and how women have been more vulnerable in war, politics, and power just because they have a pussy, at least this is my interpretation.

Of course, this is not what this artist set out to paint; his images come from his creative zone that he allows to take charge and he just paints. In this powerful painting, the image speaks of the rage of power with an abrasive grab that symbolizes dominance and violence.
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He uses the color pink to tease the viewer into arousal and maybe to emphasize the power that these images represent. Eriberto knows that since the beginning of time, people with power and money have had a significant impact on society when they have allowed their greed and insecurity to get the best of them.
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Through his paintings, Eriberto is helping us see what others at times do not see. He allows the creativity of his imagination to be seen in his work. Historically that is what artists have done.
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Artists such as Francisco Goya’s etchings “Los Caprichos” and Pablo Picasso’s with “Guernica” documented some of the cruel and inhuman events of the war, greed, and power. Some felt that these bizarre paintings were a sign of madness, completely off the wall because they were different from everyone else’s. I would argue that these artists were really in tune with the creative force of the universe.
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SAVE THIS DATE: June 14, 2019
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Photos and text by Angelica Oriol

CANCER: Stage 4

 

In this artwork, artist Eriberto Oriol captured the intense emotions that I was going through at the time when I found out that I had breast cancer. Nothing prepares one for moments like these.

This was back in August 1994. I kept asking myself questions like, “What did I do to get this cancer? What do I do now? Why me?”

I remembered a therapist saying to me, “Angelica get a hold of yourself, the fear of cancer will kill you sooner than cancer.” I said to myself, “That is easy for her to say.” But she was right.

They say that some of the most powerful works of art emerge from an artist’s darkest moments. In this piece, you can see the strength in Eriberto’s art.

 

 

He was able to capture the intensity of emotions and sheer determination to live in those eyes – all my emotions are on and running!

In much of Eriberto’s work, it is in his characters that seem to reflect haunting moments of human life that resonate the fears and emotions most experience.

His work also shows the strength, tenacity, and integrity of his character as a human being and as an artist.

Photo and text by Angelica
Artwork mixed media by Eriberto Oriol

* For more details on of some of his accomplishments, samples of Eriberto’s painting and list of art collectors GO TO ABOUT in ForbiddenArtLA.com.

Did you kill the song?

When you kill the bird, you kill the song. As it would be, when you kill the person’s spirit you kill the soul and their song.

In this painting, “The Ravages of Greed and Power,” the artist

Eriberto Oriol seems to capture the characters’ pain and anguish of their dying souls.

Did you kill the Song?

He hopes that these powerful characters startle people out of their daily routine and question the sanity of greed and power.

Most of the time Eriberto does not want these faces to come in his paintings. He prefers that he could just paint without the psychological trips.

Why do artists do this? El Greco felt that the spirits whispered madly in his ears. For artists like Francis Bacon and Edvard Munch, some felt that their disturbing paintings were a sign of madness and that these artists were completely off the wall.

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Eriberto feels it is a privilege to have the unique distinction of being an artist that allows him to see the world that is not always obvious.

His dream is that the sky would get bluer, that the birds would start to sing again, and the glaciers stop melting.

In Spanish we say, “El Sueno del artista, es que el cielo se vuelva mas azul, los pajaros comienzen a cantar de nuevo, y los glaciares dejen de derretirese.

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Text by Angelica

Painting by Eriberto Oriol

Go to our Blog: ForbiddenArtLA.com to see artwork available.

What does it mean to be a Genius?

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To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius. Ralph Waldo Emerson

In today’s society full of noisy distractions, how does one find their true genius?   What prevents a person from embracing the wisdom of ancient great civilizations?

 

In this painting “Civilizations” the artist Eriberto Oriol seems to be embracing and celebrating the symbols of ancient civilizations that have influenced him and his art.

“Civilizations”

He seems to be projecting his influences through shape, form, color, bold lines and texture.

 

His work bares influences of his father’s appreciation for the natural environment, Mesoamerica roots, love for African art and the Japanese influence that came from working as a young man with gardeners and landscapers.

 

It’s hard for Eriberto to try to give meaning or interpretation to his work, as he just seems to be a vessel for these inspirations. He believes that art retains a primal spirit, which allows him to go beyond himself.

 

He hopes that his work will help others to detect their own gleam of light? Imagine the Un-imaginable and to encourage them to see the contributions and achievements of other great civilizations.

 

Close-up of “Civilizations”

 

Close-up of “Civilizations”

 

Text by Angelica

Painting by Eriberto Oriol

Go to our Blog: ForbiddenArtLA.com to see artwork available.

 

 

 

Imagination, is it Madness?

The painting “Into the Night,” seems to be a psychological journey of the human condition.

 

“Into the Night” painting by Eriberto Oriol

 

They say that some of the most powerful works of art emerge from the artist’s darkest moments and when an artist is pushing the envelope; for some, the work may appear to be shocking.

 

Eriberto’s work has a unique artistic vocabulary. His characters seemed to be looking with curiosity and seem to be haunting moments of human life and in a sort of apocalyptic flare showing the basic fears encountered by most people.

There is a certain kind of freedom that comes from madness. With civilization come the rules and regulations. Who is really free? Who are the normal people; those who are free to act on their instincts and desires; or those who are ruled by regulations and expectations?

As an artist, Eriberto Oriol, is not interested in following the rules and schools of art. He feels that humanity has been bestowed with great gifts; perhaps the greatest of them all is imagination because it has the power to change the world.

 

Some say, “Where there is light, there is a dream.” For an artist, sustainability through their art is the Dream.

 

Painting by Eriberto Oriol

 

Text by Angelica

 

GO TO: ForbiddenArtLA.com

 

 

 

 

Cosmic Creativity?

“Cosmic Woman” painting by Eriberto Oriol

In his paintings, Eriberto Oriol’s characters are often missing the real structure of what is supposed to be a full body and often all you see are interactions of the shapes, color and texture.

 

Eriberto does not want to be pigeonhole in ONE style. It is hard at times to have the unique distinction of being an artist, but Eriberto sees it as a privilege to be able to express the magic of his imagination.

 

Projecting his emotions through color, line, his work has more of an international flair from inspirations that comes from great art from Asia, Africa and Mesoamerica.

 

Text by Angelica

 

Eriberto is standing by one of his recent paintings “Cosmic Woman.”

 

GO TO ForbiddenArtLA.com for a list of art collectors, publications, media coverage and more samples of his artwork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Eriberto Oriol’s FOCUS now?

Eriberto is painting.

In some his painting, the images do not always reflect the real structure of what is supposed to be a full body.   What you see in some of his work is the intertwined and interactions of shapes, color, and texture.

“Angelica and her shadow” painting by Eriberto Oriol

Born and raised in the United States he sometimes paints from themes that flow from memories, with various painting styles, impressions from his subconscious and street experiences.

GO TO ForbiddenArtLA.com for a list of art collectors, publications, media coverage and more samples of his artwork.

Eriberto is standing by one of his recent painting, “Angelica and her shadow.”

By Angelica

 

 

“Caras y Panochas – Faces and Vaginas,” painting by Eriberto.

What is Eriberto Oriol up to NOW?

By Angelica

Eriberto is painting.

“Caras y Panochas – Faces and Vaginas,” painting by Eriberto.

As a photographer, Eriberto has garnished considerable success. Now he is focusing on his painting, drawings, and sculpture.

His work has more of an international flair as his inspirations come from great art from Asia, Africa, and Mesoamerica.

It’s hard for Eriberto to try to give meaning or interpretation to his work, as he just seems to be a vessel for these inspirations.

GO TO ForbiddenArtLA.com for a list art collector, publications, media coverage and more samples of his artwork.