Artist Statement

 

Samantha Camarro: Allure

 

      I work with the process of deciphering and mapping out my own personal language to create a dialogue and address my aspects of desire leaving behind just the right amount of clues for the viewer.

      The idea of the collage relies heavily upon upon an overlapping of elements to create a singular image. Through my own exploration of juxtaposed imagery and fragmentation, I have extracted symbols which pertain to my personal identity and strong hold on 90’s culture and awkward feelings. I draw inspiration from abstract expressionism, surrealism, and mixed media as well as gender and queer studies while looking at artists such as, Hannah Höch, Ida Applebroog, Alice Neel, David Salle and Dana Schutz.

      Examples of these visual indications can be noted in the suggestive nature of the gestures depicted as well as in the various represented objects such as conch shells, fruits, etc. Working with gender neutral or just female body parts as objects, I  break them down into pieces further causing them to lose their identity. These images float in and out of intricate patterning and abstract layered washes allowing the eye to move smoothly through my paintings as chaotic as they may become.  

      I am currently experimenting with colorfields, line drawings, and paint applications. The surface and content is suggestive and purposeful. Language and imagery mimic each other. My process starts with words, words of things, phrases, objects, images, that cannot leave my mind, a bank. From there I take photos, sketch and search. I begin by presenting a focal point for the painting to evolve around, a base image from where the painting evolve and change through what is needed. Nothings ever random, just encrypted.