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About Felix Berroa - Acerca de Felix Berroa

"Para entender un artista no basta con apreciar su tecnica en el arte. Conformarse con eso seria recorrer la mitad de un camino de formas sin preocuparse de lo que alli se pueda decir. Eso seria conformarse con la materia bien organizada sobre un lienzo, papel, madera, etc. Cualquier buen DECORADOR con un entrenamiento basico de dibujo, pintura y un poco de imaginacion puede hacer eso. Para entender un artista se necesita tambien, ademas de la tecnica, enfrentarse al mensaje en sus trabajos, clasificarlo y evaluarlo. Para esto es necesario LEERLO A EL (al artista), a traves de su recorrido en su ambiente vivido y la manera que el ha incorporado estas experiencias con sus sentimientos en el Arte." Felix Berroa, 1995, Long Island, New York. "To understand an artist it is not enough with being able to appreciate his art technique. To conform to that will be walk half way through a path with forms without any concern of what there may be said. That will be to conform alone with the very organized "matter" on a canva, paper, wood, etc. Any GOOD DECORATOR with a basic drawing, painting training and some imagination can do that. To understand an artist you need also, in addition to the technique, to face his statement in his works, to classify it and to evaluate it. For this is necessary to READ HIM (the artist), through his distance traveled in his lived enviroment and the way he had incorporated those experiences with his feelings in the Art." Felix Berroa, 1995, Long Island, New York.

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MY WORKS

(Traducion al Español mas abajo)

"I began drawing and carving wood and common stones during my childhood in the 50s. From the beginning, it was faces, the human figure, self-portraits, or just a pretty girl who would catch my eye.

My later work had been realistic, but during the last stage of my studies at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes, in the Dominican Republic, my work began to transform into what it is today.

My ability was forged by a team of some of the most recognized artists of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

In my art, 'the lines' wish to be seen in order to more definitely mark the 'expressions' of our joy, dreams, and suffering. The idea of those 'small lines' was taken primarily from my work as an etcher. By observing the Old Masters of that discipline (Durer, Rembrandt, and others), I assimilated the sort of line that they used to achieve volume and shadow in their forms. I adapted to enhance the expressions, not only in the faces of my characters, but in their bodies.

My characters are mostly women and children because I dedicate my attention to those human beings considered in the society as "weakest". They are actually the most tender and beautiful, the givers and receivers of life.

I mostly drawing or paint my characters in abstract surroundings. Our everyday surroundings may be important or insignificant, good or bad, pretty or ugly, simple or sophisticated, but surroundings do not decide society, people do.

I always say, abstraction can be achieved with a composition of colors and any detail of a commun forms, but characters will be always life, experience. In other word, "is living".

Felix Berroa, 1993.

MIS TRABAJOS

-ESPAñOL-

"Comence a dibujar y a esculpir madera comunes durante mi niñez en los 50's. Desde el comienzo eran rostros, la figura humana, autorretratos, o justamente una muchacha bonita que atrapaba mi mirada.

Mis trabajos anteriores eran realistas, pero durante la ultima etapa de mis estudios en la Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes en Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana, comenzaron a transformarse en lo que son hoy dia.

My abilidad fue formada por un equipo de artistas de entre los mas reconocidos de la Republica Dominicana y Puerto Rico.

En mi arte, "la linea" se deja ver para asi marcar mas definidamente la "expresion" de nuestros gozos, sueños y sufrimientos. La idea de esas "pequeñas lineas" la tome originalmente de mis trabajos como grabadista. Por observar a los Viejos Maestros de esa disciplina (Durero, Rembrandt y otros), asimile el curso de las lineas que ellos usaban para darle volumenes y sombras a sus formas. Adapte esas lineas para destacar la expresiones, no solamente en los rostros de mis personajes, sino en sus cuerpos.

Mis personajes son mayormente mujeres y niños porque dedico mi atencion a aquellos seres humanos considerado en la sociedad como "debiles". Ellos son en realidad los mas tiernos y hermosos, el dador y recibidor de la vida.

Mayormente dibujo o pinto mis personajes en ambientes abstractos. Nuestros alrrededores pueden ser importante o insignificiantes, buenos o malos, bonitos o feos, simples o sofisticados, pero no deciden la sociedad. Nosotros lo hacemos.

Siempre he dicho, la abstracion puede ser lograda con una composicion de colores y un detalle de una forma cualquiera, pero los personajes seran siempre vida, experiencias. En otras palabras, "es vivir".

Felix Berroa. 1993.