Heartfelt Human Interest Stories of Courage, Hope, and Tenacity. Eriberto Oriol and Angelica Gonzalez-Oriol‘s Stories through Media Coverage and Videos
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Eriberto is a Los Angeles based painter he creates work with a Latin world ethos. A confluence of European and Indigenous Indian cultures.
The term “Cosmic Race”, is brought to mind in this work, coined by Jose Vasconcelos a Mexican philosopher. Vasconcelos believed that nationality and race is transcended by Latin Americans with their Asian-descended native Americans, European and African heritage. You can see in Oriol’s work the same kind of merging of cultures.
Dante’s Inferno painting by Eriberto Oriol
Oriol provides us a reflection of the indigenous dream like state. The dreams that brought wisdom and guidance to the tribe were achieved with the ceremonial use of alkaloids such as Peyote or Ayahuasca. The skillful interpretation that Mr. Oriol achieves in his work reflects the forces of the universe as it affects our collective journey into the unconscious. At the same time the colors the painting techniques emphasize European influences.
The work is not easy. Like Picasso’s Guernica that shows the tragedy of war. The internal struggle is what is emphasized in Mr. Oriol’s work. We feel the power we have within ourselves with this work.
Many of the works are clearly phallic. Just prior to the sexual revolution in the 60’s and 70’s American art was overly affected by Christian values of the Puritans. The phallus was usually hidden not exposed as in Mr. Oriol’s paintings. The sexual revolution allowed the phallus to show up in sculptures and other contemporary art. Look at work by Louise Bourgeois and Andy Warhol. Surely, this affected Mr. Oriol a product of that time.
But let’s go back even further to pre-Columbian times where we see references to the phallus as an important cultural icon to the indigenous populations all over the world. The influences of pre-Columbian art cannot be denied in this work. The paintings are not always pleasant. They are; however, wondrous and terrifying and beautiful portraying dream likes states of mind.
As was the intention of the Indigenous their dreams were meant to help the community at large. It is the same with Mr. Oriol’s work. He may want us to see the hidden power of our animal nature. As witnesses to our hidden power in the paintings, will we be overcome the angst, the sometimes powerlessness we feel in our daily lives. The power of the phallus is in our DNA, we cannot separate ourselves from our animal nature. Contemplation is key to our understanding of our place here in the world. Mr. Oriol’s paintings help us see an inner world.
Julie Rico is an artmuse and has had her own galleries representing many artists including: Jean Jacques Bastarache, Salomon Huerta, Treiops, Ed Big Daddy Roth, Stanley Mouse, Bill Plympton, Lama Lhanang, Mark Bryan, Dennis Larkins, Craig Stecyk, Robert Williams, Patssi Valdez, Diane Gamboa, Timothy Leary, Michael McMillan, Kai Bob Cheng, Ray Zone, Von Dutch, Einar and Jamex de la Torre, Brian Tortora and about 100 or more artists.
Nocturnal is a beautifully textured background painting with the color blue being more dominant. The main character not only has four breasts but it also has two penises. What could this artist have been thinking? Eriberto does not try to find meaning in his work; he just gets in his creative zone and allows his characters to emerge.
In his paintings, he seems to be embracing the symbols of ancient civilizations and mythology that have influenced him and his art. Even though breasts and penises seemed to have been a taboo in our society, these symbols are sacred icons of mythology and of goddesses in other cultures, for instance, Japan has a Penis Festival and in Bhutan penises are worship. Click on links for information on the festival in Japan and Bhutan.
Some cultures have made the goddess of women who had more than two breasts. The Hatuibwari dragon of Melanesia had four pendulous breasts, which serve to feed and to nourish all the living. The goddess Meenakshi at the Temple Madurai had three breasts; she symbolized courage and power that challenged sexist notions of the world. The people of India believe she was bold, brave and considered herself equal to men.
In this painting, you will see that Eriberto is also using penises not as phallic symbols, but as symbols of power. He believes that the three Calaveras speak more about the violence and death of people caused by the abuse of power. It speaks of human truths, fears, and nightmares of seemly invisible erased souls begging not to be forgotten. He hopes that these powerful characters startle people out of their daily routine and question the sanity of greed and power and appreciate the art of artists in tune with the creative force of the universe.
Text and photo by Angelica Oriol
“Immortal” is one of the social commentary paintings in the series “Dancing with a Madman” by artist Eriberto Oriol.
They say that every picture has a story; this is definitely true for Eriberto’s work. For him, mythology has become a way to help make sense of his world. Breasts and penises are common themes in mythology and also in Eriberto’s artwork, but he does not use them as phallic symbols. In this painting, he is using the penises as symbols of power. In a society where many seek to immortalize themselves through physical monuments, it is perhaps why some skyscrapers broadly resemble and represent the penis, so do rockets, bullets, missiles, and memorialized monuments.
For artists, the journey to find oneself and to be true to their art is often a lonely one. It is a journey that at times is not by choice, however, it is sometimes necessary for an artist. Eriberto often finds that his characters, although not always obvious, often seem to reflect haunting moments of human life that resonate with the fears and emotions most people experience. Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “To create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.”
It has been said that art is not what you see but what it makes you see. An artist’s journey can be bewildering; they do not often know its origin or meaning. However, as in this painting, when artists use their imagination as a source of genius, it deepens the mystery and the magic in art.
Eriberto knows that to become truly immortal, one must face their basic fears, imagine the unimaginable and in that way, they will live forever through believing in their own genius and in the magic of imagination.
Text by Angelica Oriol
“Immortal” is one of the social commentary paintings in the series “Dancing with a Madman” by artist Eriberto Oriol.
They say that every picture has a story; this is definitely true for Eriberto’s work.
For him, mythology has become a way to help make sense of his world. Breasts and penises are common themes in mythology and also in Eriberto’s artwork, but he does not use them as phallic symbols. In this painting, he is using the penises as symbols of power. In a society where many seek to immortalize themselves through physical monuments, it is perhaps why some skyscrapers broadly resemble and represent the penis, so do rockets, bullets, missiles, and memorialized monuments.
For artists, the journey to find oneself and to be true to their art is often a lonely one. It is a journey that at times is not by choice, however, it is sometimes necessary for an artist. Eriberto often finds that his characters, although not always obvious, often seem to reflect haunting moments of human life that resonate with the fears and emotions most people experience. Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “To create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.”
It has been said that art is not what you see but what it makes you see. An artist’s journey can be bewildering; they do not often know its origin or meaning. However, as in this painting, when artists use their imagination as a source of genius, it deepens the mystery and the magic in art.
Eriberto knows that to become truly immortal, one must face their basic fears, imagine the unimaginable and in that way, they will live forever through believing in their own genius and in the magic of imagination.
Text by Angelica Oriol
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
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Did you kill the Song?
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
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Picasso once said: “When I think about it, I’d say I’m an artist without style. Style puts constraints on the artist …” Picasso had many different styles, i.e. he had his Blue Period, African Period, Cubism and others.
Eriberto also has several styles in his art and he does not limit his creativity to his art.
If you have been a guest in Eriberto Oriol’s studio, you would know that for him; a taco is not just a taco.
It’s like he sometimes says, “Life is about meditating with your eyes open and allowing the imagination to take you where it may. Eriberto allows his creative mind to reflect on his paintings, drawings, photos, cooking and his life.
In this photo, the artist Eriberto Oriol is holding his painting “Hung-over” and his sculpture “La Familia/The Family” is next to him on the wall.
Some say, “Where there is light, there is a dream.” For an artist, sustainability through their art is the Dream.
Text by Angelica
Paintings by Eriberto Oriol
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