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Archive for September 30th, 2008

Castiglia at Giger Museum

September 30th, 2008 by Meg Smith

Castiglias beinArt Gallery"Remedy For the Living" - Iron-Oxide Visions on Paper by Vincent Castiglia

With such precise technique, his depiction of human musculature is nothing short of outstandingPaul Booth / World-renowned Tattooist, Artist, Gallery Owner, Fanatical Nihilist

If the body is the temple, then the heart is the altar and the blood is the sacred flame that enlightens the shrine. Vincent is painting with holy light. – Martin Eric Ain / Musician, Celtic Frost

One can see a celebration of life in all its dimensions; life that is followed by death, and death that gives way to newness of life… a sublime truth which I believe Vincent’s work diligently seeks: the mystery of being. – Father John Wykes / Priest, Art-appreciator

The ominous truth that his art confronts, along with the exquisiteness in which it is portrayed, provides a timeless revelation into human existence. – Joe Sopkowics, Forensic Photographer

The first solo exhibition of paintings by Vincent Castiglia will open at the H.R. Giger Museum Gallery in Gruyeres, Switzerland on October 31st 2008 and run through mid 2009.

Working in the tradition of surrealism and visionary art, Castiglia states: "my paintings tend to depict iconographic forms, vital and necrotic juxtapositions, and reinterpretations of transpersonal experience."

The award-winning artist, who literally puts his life into his work, has mastered the use of his own blood as a medium.  Just as this personal, iron rich pigment holds the key to countless facts and information regarding the sustenance and perpetuation of life, Castiglia’s subjects are often "exposed like a body that has been dissected to determine the cause and manner of one’s demise," states Detroit’s Forensic Photographer, Joe Sopkowics.  As he strips away layers of flesh, muscle and bone, Castiglia confronts humanity’s innate fear of the unknown while exquisitely illustrating its losing battle with biological truths.

The H.R. Giger Museum opened in June of 1998, in Gruyeres, Switzerland. It showcases the largest collection of Giger’s work on permanent public display, encompassing his paintings, sculptures, furniture and film designs, including his work on "Alien", "Poltergeist", and "Species". The top floor of the Museum houses Giger’s private collection, which includes over 600 works of art by Salvador Dali, Ernst Fuchs, Dado, Bruno Weber, Günther Brus, Claude Sandoz, François Burland, Friedrich Kuhn, Joe Coleman, Sibylle Ruppert, Andre Lassen, among many others.

An exhibition catalogue will be printed for "Remedy For the Living" Iron-Oxide Visions on Paper. The artist will be present at the opening. Castiglia's solo exhibition at the H.R. Giger Museum Gallery will run for six months.

MUSEUM HR GIGER, Chateau St. Germain, 1663 Gruyeres

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Jon Beinart founded The beinArt Surreal Art Collective & beinArt Publishing (Metamorphosis) in 2006. beinArt.org was designed by Leo Plaw. All artists have granted permission to be featured on this website. All art herein is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express permission of the respective artists. beinArt.org represents contemporary artists working in one or more of the following art traditions: Fantastic Realism, Surrealism, Symbolism, Pop Surrealism, Lowbrow, Psychedelic, Visionary, Esoteric, Erotic & Macabre Art.