| INTERNATIONAL
TATTOO ART By - Amy Young Daniel Martin Diaz Does Religion  .. |
||
| Standing
within viewing range of a Daniel Martin Diaz original oil painting may
inspire intoxication, dizzy spells, and maybe even a shortness of breath.
An entire exhibition and you might want to be prepared to rely on a back-up
supply of air. Dizzying and hypnotic in nature, each thoughtful piece
is intrinsically layered with a stunning combination of beauty and intrigue.
The distinct painting style and simultaneously rich and subtle color palette
unite to produce work that showcases the artist’s passion for the
exploration of faith and its relationship to life, death and the afterlife. . |
||
| Daniel’s
interest in religious ideals and iconography are of an explorative orientation
and not a manufactured effort to make a definitive, in any direction,
statement about organized religion, but of an genuine curiosity formulated
organically as a facet of growing up in a Mexican Catholic home firmly
rooted in traditional beliefs. The polarity of temporal and spiritual
left a lot of room in between for questions, that pathway being the place
where Diaz’s work is created—a research zone to investigate
the world between faith-based beliefs and tangible realities and all of
the emotions associated with each. . The self-taught Tucson, Arizona artist parallels his continued expansion of religious knowledge with a solid love and appreciation for many periods in art history. His work maintains a definite individuality while employing a blend of the spirit, sensibilities and techniques of devotional and Mexican folk art, the Old Masters, and the Gothic and Byzantine era works. The stark and distressed backgrounds touched by lush reds and golds of his pieces capture the emotion engaged in early Christian iconoclastic paintings, while paintings like his Illuminati highlights arcane and secret societies such as the Ordo Templi Orientis, a fraternal and religious organization that came to life in the early 20th century. Latin text is also a reoccurring feature in Diaz’s work, as well as the ability to emphasize the time and weather elements without taking away from the subject matter, itself. The soft crescent moon in Aeternus Vita creates a haunting deep evening shade. . |
 Diaz signing artwork |
|
|
Like
his multi-faceted interests, painting is not Daniel’s only medium.
His graphite on paper works, which sometimes go on to be fully developed
in painting, are beautiful. And it would be criminal not to mention
his frames. Intricately hand-carved selections of dark wood are pieces
of art unto themselves. Diaz the sculptor has created some pretty awe-inspiring
pieces like Sanctus Mannus, included in the Tucson Museum of Art’s
permanent collection. The life-size horse sculpture sits atop a wooden
platform with Latin text around its borders and hosts a pensive angel
on one side and a sacred heart on the other, both surrounded by more
text and imagery. Though he didn’t sculpt it, Diaz also painted
a guitar as a tribute to deceased Pantera guitarist, Dimebag Darrell,
for a group show that has been touring the U.S. for more than a year.
Tucson’s historic hotel and music venue The Hotel Congress brought
Daniel in to redecorate their stage area and ended up with any band’s
dream framework. From the carved metal pillars complete with Diaz’s
signature number 13 carved into their centers to the plush red velvet
curtains, when the lights go down and the glass beyond those pillars
is alight, it’s pure visual bliss. Though the humble Diaz probably
has little clue, it’s hard to find an area resident that doesn’t
sing his praises. If a conversation about Tucson comes up, it’s
a rare occasion when his name is not mentioned. It’s obvious the
locals are more than proud of his presence and endeavors. |
||