Robert Janitz

Casa Siza invites you to the Guided Tour of Popocatépetl (Love is in the air), with aritst Robert Janitz.

In his ongoing exploration of the evolution of the backs of heads into volcanic columns, Robert Janitz once again elevates this theme through his innovative application of paint. Using pastry flour and a wax medium, he uses paint in a process almost reminiscent of photographic development. The striking contrast between the prominence and subtlety of the artist's hand in his expansive brushstrokes creates a materiality that not only emphasizes the medium itself, but also serves as a conduit for creative interpretation. The self-reflexive quality of the impasto now acquires an almost random anthropomorphic presence. His work probes the human mind's propensity to ascribe representational meaning to the most minimal of painted gestures; the brushstrokes maintain their independence while evoking images of a volcanic column, an abstract head, or simply the act of mark-making. The iconic Popocatepetl, a personified volcano, along with its counterpart Iztaccihuatl, stands out in the clear days from Mexico City, narrating a love story that is deeply rooted in Mexican identity. In addition, his work reflects on the duality of what lies before our eyes: an inanimate natural formation and a rich local legend, serving as a vital anchor for cultural identity.

–Saenger Galería