The Pin Up Academism Of The Mexican Artist Juan Medina

"Fantasy is inherent in art because nothing is real" (suttonsgalleries.com). This is the statement of the Mexican artist Juan Medina (b. 1950), who, surprisingly, can be classified as a figurative painter since the recurring visual motif of his surreal works is a female body. "Female figure is my first choice not only for aesthetic reasons but because women possess a past full of memories and a future full of hopes and fears." What does the artist show in his paintings - the balance of real and imaginative or the attraction of two art opposites - academism and avant-garde - is for you to decide.

Fig. 1. Haunting Duties (poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com)

Fig. 2. In Spite Of (poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com)

Fig. 3. Lilith (artrenewal.org)

Fig. 4. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 5. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 6. Challenge (poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com)

Fig. 7. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 8. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Exhibiting At The Louvre Museum

Juan Medina was born in Mexico City and resided in Mexico, France, and the United States. Probably, he studied at the National University of Mexico, where he later obtained the rank of Professor of Art History, yet the artist describes himself as mostly self-taught. Medina also has a Ph.D. in Architecture, which is manifested in his works featuring gothic churches. The artist organized open studies in art at the Louvre Museum, Autonomous University of Mexico, and many other places. For six years, Medina was given the opportunity to exhibit his work at the prestigious Salon de la Nationale des Beaux-Arts at the Louvre Museum and won a silver medal at the first exhibition. His paintings are exposed in Mexico and USA. 

Fig. 9. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 10. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 11. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 12. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 13. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 14. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

 Fig. 15. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Fig. 16. poramoralarte-exposito.blogspot.com

Body As A Symbol

Speaking of the influences, Medina mentions "the world's greatest museums" as "the most comprehensive of schools." So, it's not a surprise that his works are mostly inspired by academism, which can be seen not only in the constant presence of nude figures but also in their postures and drape. The artist himself suggests a symbolic interpretation of this tendency, saying that "nudity denotes the shedding of cultural or moral restrictions." Beautiful winged figures, as you may guess, symbolize human longing for freedom. 

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