Painting in blue tones and mostly oil paint, artist Jorge Alfonso Polanco Aguirre presented his collection “The Life of J” at the El Paso International Museum of Art.
The collection includes paintings in the signature color of the artist, ceramic sculptures and some metal pieces that reflect the character of Polanco Aguirre.
“They ask me a lot why I decided to paint in blue, but I didn’t choose the color, the color chose me,” Polanco Aguirre said. “I feel like the color spoke to me and told me, ‘You’re going to paint me,’ and so I did.”
Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Polanco Aguirre started painting at a young age, but fully committed to the art form more than 15 years ago. His work reflects his love and passion for every memory that lives in each painting.
“I used to help him do the drawings for his homework, but with time I noticed that he started to create, to paint. Seeing his work is very exciting and beautiful,” said Diana Aguirre, mother of the artist.
Inspired by the work of Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso, Polanco Aguirre explained the impact and desire he wishes to convey with his painting.
“I feel like Picasso is my brother, but I contradict what he did. He used to paint in blue because he was depressed, but I don’t. I paint in blue because I want the color to be seen as positive, as peacefulness and serenity, that is what I wish to change,” he said.
Every painting has its own source of inspiration, according to Polanco Aguirre. Some of the pieces in the collection represent family members, a girlfriend, a friend and also a vivid memory.
In the collection, there are a series of paintings that tell the story of how the artist survived three days at the Copper Canyon in Northern Mexico without water and food.
“I was standing behind a rock looking for shade, and at one moment I thought I should jump because I preferred to get hit by a rock and die, rather than dying from dehydration,” Polanco Aguirre said. “One of my aunts, before leaving Juarez, gave me her blessing, and I saw that image and that image saved me, and here I am.”
He advocates for a true inside look at the artist’s self by an artist.
“I feel that we all have the skill of painting. We start when we’re kids, but as we grow up we start to lose that interest,” Polanco Aguirre said. “There were times that I painted a lot and other times where I didn’t paint that often, but I never lost interesting in painting.”
The exhibit will be open to the public through Aug. 31.
