Substance 4 2015

Rodrigo Franzao’s Substance 4 is made up of pigment applied to fragments of paper, creating an active surface with vibrant colors and tactile material. It has the exuberance of an expressionist painting, but it's also an example of collage- a technique that entered the fine arts in the early 20th century. Look closely, and you can see the way the artist has layered the pastel hues, almost like fresco painting. The artist is building up the surface in an intuitive way, working with the inherent qualities of the paper to create a strong sense of depth and texture. There is a strong contrast with the woven fiber applied on top. The use of common materials and art techniques are tied to wider social issues of labor and politics. Franzao seems to be making the point that art need not be a precious commodity. Instead, it can be an accessible form of expression, and the artist is encouraging us to rethink what we consider valuable.