The beautiful island of Hawaii has long inspired artists to
respond to its rich history and scenic environment. Colombian artist Ivan Osorio may have come from a very different place,
but he brings to Hawaii a highly respected repertoire of work that transcends location while it also manges to incorporate
elements from his past experiences in painting and sculpting that reveals unique cominations of aesthetic and stylistic ideas
drawn from his travels and exploration of new locales. His success as a sculptor and painter within the genre of Latin American
Art is still evident in his dedication to figuration, color, and interest in his cultural surroundings. He manages to adapt
to his new environment by creating series of works that celebrate Hawaiian ritual, objects, people and extraordinary natural
beauty. The series of Volcano paintings pays tribute to the drama of nature with brash energetic brushwork that captures the
lighting effects and force of the eruption. Bordering on total abstraction, these paintings are personal expression of the
artists response to an extraordinary event. He also pays homage to the history of Hawaii in a series of paintings and jar
sculptures that recognize King Kamehameha and Queen Kapiolani. Particularly interesting is his use of jar forms that are striking
in their resemblance to the Pre Colombian forms of his Andean heritage, while at the same time recognizable as artifacts of
Hawaiian ritual as well. Originating in terracotta, his cast bronze froms give a new solidity and permanence to shapes that
are often forgotten for their historic significance, while placing them in a modern context. In the paintings from the Jar
Series, the objects take on an anthropomorphic quality within abstracted landscapes! The landscape, its flora, fauna and dramatic
geography, emerge as the defining elements in Ivan Osorio works, his fascination with new surroundings and the opportunity
to explore its spectacular beauty become more evident. Ivan Osorio brings to Hawaii a sophissticated approach to the creative
process that can be appreciated as a vibrant response to the land and its people. ---Carol Damian, Professor of Art History Florida International University Miami,
Florida, February 2007
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