Magnificent Isolation with Eduardo Mata Icaza
Written by: Anthony Hagan All Images courtesy of Eduardo Mata Icaza

Eduardo Mata Icaza is an artist of few words.  However, the words he does provide give a clear portrayal of an individual who is far from timid. His paintings express angst, pain and shyness in various distorted ways but always with a sense of solitude and lonely turmoil. Eduardo states that art is freedom and it inevitably leads people to express deep seeded beliefs that might otherwise be concealed.  The great thing is Eduardo’s expressions are really enticing and seeing one of his paintings lures you to want to see more and more. 

See the interview below:

“My philosophy is I believe that everything happens in a very perfect …”

Please tell us a little about yourself – your childhood, siblings, where you grew up, what you liked as a child, strange thoughts as a child/now, unique attributes, where you live now, etc.?

My self… My self… This is such a difficult question! Maybe you can see a piece of me reflected in my work.

What does your art mean to you?

I experience a kind of schism with myself. I think I represent the isolated body in a sociological context which reflects absence, memories and forgetfulness.

Painting means everything to me It motivates me to think I can do what I like when I want.  Through painting, I find autonomy from the system and from routine. So art is freedom. And when we talk about freedom we talk about politics and ideologies.

How do you describe your form of art?

I couldn’t describe my form of art, it takes on different forms. It’s like an independent entity that I cannot control. My work is very personal and it’s the result of my life.

How do you create your art?

All my work is handmade.  Drawings and oil on canvas.

Which artist/s do you look up to the most?

There are so many artists I admire. I was really impressed when I saw Velazquez’s paintings in Madrid. He is one of my favorites. I also like the chronological sense in the self-portraits of Rembrandt. I also admire a variety of Kiki Smith’s work. And Berlinde de Bruyckere for her use of the body in her sculptures.  I also appreciate Damien Hirst for the presence of death in work.

Since Style.No.Chaser is a men’s lifestyle magazine, what attributes/items/clothing /etc. do you think define a man?

From a very fetishist point of view: the hands, the beard, and very minimalist clothes.

What is your personal life philosophy?

My philosophy is I believe that everything happens in a very perfect way. Everything is perfect and there is not another way for things to happen.

Who dead or alive, celebrity or not, artist or not, would you like to go on a two week road trip with and why?

Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse or Jim Morrison. But Jesus is the biggest celebrity of humankind, everyone knows him, he can come back from death and he can walk over water.

How can people learn more about your current and upcoming works?

www.eduardomataicaza.com  I have an upcoming exhibition at Galerie David Pluskwa in Marseille in May 2015 and another showing during the summer in Saint-Tropez.

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