Vickie Hamlin, our México Solidarity Project art editor, offers an appreciation of the work of one of México’s most innovative young artists.
The US-born Clotilde Jiménez, like many other non-Anglo artists, has found “home” away from home. He now lives in México City where his work, not “pretty” or “easy” in the tradition of European art, tackles subjects that might make some uncomfortable. Those subjects reflect Jiménez himself, his childhood, lived experiences, and complex identities. Black, bisexual, Puerto Rican, poor, athlete, dreamer — all these identities and more make Jiménez a living collage. He utilizes, as his bio puts it, “quotidian, relatable childhood experiences that present the question, ‘What is so queer about queerness?’”
Jiménez clearly has the chops to do traditional European-style drawings and paintings of beautiful male bodies, but he chooses an entirely different direction. He uses chunky swipes of paint and charcoal, big flat raw cut-outs of collage, lines over swatches of bright color to express the grit and power of big, strong bodies ready to duke it out. Did I mention vinyl over brass? The relationships between the men push and pull at the same time, in fierceness and intimacy, defeat and dominance, the whimsical and the serious. You won’t find other art that combines lingerie and boxing gear!
You will find, in Jiménez’ work, lots of stories, and he narrates with an unafraid, joyful voice. He pushes boundaries — by honestly showing his, my, our life with his art.
Accounts
Boxes
Events
Memberships
Wikis
Polls
Newsletters
Announcements
Request feature
