Paz Arés Osset, the Artist

Christ

A profound gaze that bridges the divine and the introspective.
Amazing
  • This work is currently part of a private collection and not available on the open market. However, serious offers over €10,000 from collectors who wish to honor and value its artistic and cultural significance will be considered.
  • Creation Place: Fine Arts School of Madrid
  • Current Location: Private Collection Madrid

Description

"Christ," a work by Paz Arés Osset, is an engraved meditation on paper that distills the essence of the central figure of Christianity with astonishing intimacy and sublime technical skill. Arés Osset, in this creation, not only offers a visual representation of Jesus Christ but also weaves a narrative of her personal and spiritual relationship with this figure who has been a constant beacon in her life.

The etching and aquatint technique is masterfully employed, allowing the work to oscillate between representation and abstraction, between the physical and the metaphysical. The words "Abba," "Love," "Peace," "Life," and "Faith," which form the crown of thorns, are more than mere symbols; they are the resonances of the profound impact that Christ has had on the artist's life, encoded in the image and waiting to be deciphered by the reflective observer.

From a unique perspective, Arés Osset manipulates visual perception in such a way that the observer is led to experience a striking duality in Jesus's gaze. When viewed from an elevated position, Christ’s eyes appear to be open, projecting a gaze that penetrates beyond the superficial, inviting a direct spiritual connection. This perspective offers a sensation of a face-to-face encounter with the divinity, where Jesus seems to be in constant vigilance and communication with the observer. Conversely, when changing the viewpoint to a lower position, directed towards the area of the mouth, Christ's eyes are perceived as closed, evoking an image of deep meditation. This transformation not only demonstrates Arés Osset's technical skill in playing with light and shadow but also symbolizes the depth of Jesus's spiritual practice, who, even in stillness, remains in a state of intense communion and reflection. This feature of the work adds a layer of interpretation that delves into the mystery of the figure of Christ, suggesting that his presence is both a guiding beacon and a reflection of internal meditation.

The duality in Jesus's gaze is a feat of visual perception, one that invites observers to contemplation. Arés Osset captures a gaze that seems open yet also closed, a reflection of her life experience in which Jesus has been a constant presence, a guide in moments of action as well as deep meditation. This aspect of the work reflects the integration of spirituality and artistic practice in the artist's life, in which the figure of Jesus has been a companion and guiding light.

The engraving, completed in the year 1997, not only reflects Arés Osset's personal devotion but also marks a stage in her spiritual and artistic journey. The influence of Buddhism, which the artist began to explore around the creation of this piece, infuses the work with a contemplative quality that complements the depth of her Christian faith. The transmitting gaze of Christ, which seems to observe the viewer or to immerse in meditation, is a testament to the artist's ability to visually communicate complex states of consciousness and presence.

"Christ" by Paz Arés Osset is a visual testimony of the symbiotic relationship between the artist and her divine muse. It is a work that transcends traditional religious representation and becomes a vehicle for spiritual and personal communication. Through texture, light, and shadow, Arés Osset invites us to share in the perpetual presence that Christ has had in her life, offering us not just a window into her soul but also a mirror of our own search for meaning and connection with the divine.