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Creative Process

Time of no time

By Guadalupe Caballero

“There is no time for things” says Abel Vázquez, joking a little bit about the pun that refers to the name of the work. The time of no time, represents the painter’s two daughters: Citlalli and Meztli, both nature lovers, spiritual beings who are looking for their own time.

The painting is divided between earth and cosmology. The most impressive thing about Abel’s art, is that he always plays not only with his titles, but also with shapes and figures that he portrays. From one side, the painting tells you a story, but if you flip it three more times, you will get different versions of the tale; this is, without a doubt, what makes this work so peculiar yet attractive.

At first glance, the figure of a braided woman is striking. In Abel’s words, it represents Citlali; below or next to her (depending on how the viewer perceives it) you can find the nature, sea, plants and animals surrounding her. What in a beginning seems to be a snail, suddenly turns into a bird, swan or heron, all of this elements being wrapped by cosmology and earth, making the landscape a riddle.

From the other side, there is Meztli. She can seem in one of the readings, an angel with closed wings falling to the void, her hair represents water, and her gazing is stirring yet meticulous. From her figure, if you look closer, you will find that another face is drawn, as well as a pair of arms that are tossing small seeds to the air. All of this, expresses a deep connection between her being and earth, it serves a caring role, and talks about a protection bond that she wants to reach with her sister.

When you flip the painting, her figure is no longer falling, but it is dancing in the air or the universe, trying to find herself. Now, the sea turns into a cactus, stars transform into flowers and birds into fishes. The angel’s hands portray light, meaning the energy that all of us have within ourselves; what was before cosmology it is now earth, it goes deep down the sea, feeding and nourishing fishes, so it becomes a circle of life. It connects with nature and also with herself.

Other elements like the blue dots in the painting, symbolize flowers, stars or fireflies. Abel narrates how in his homeland, he used to lay down on the field and look up to the sky; what for so many could seemed to be common stars, for him meant a swarm of fireflies. The night became a source of inspiration, just as the red color and ochre that you can see portrayed on many of his works. You can’t help but notice the subtle and elegant strokes that all of this paintings possess, he likes putting nature as the main topic to make others see how important it is not only in artistic issues, but also in universal ones.

“There is no time to destroy or not destroy, it is about making a dialogue, why waiting for time? Just do it, time does not exist”. The painter finishes. His work can be described as a puzzle, riddle or optical illusion, the viewers see what they want to see, they take their own time to appreciate and decode what lays in front of their eyes.

Abel does not want to give a clear answer for the painting, as he finds beauty and joy in the interpretations that people grant regarding his art.