Self communion 2018

Thiago Boecan made this work on paper, Self Communion, with graphite and watercolor. The artist uses simple materials to create a complex image that has a strong sense of weight and volume. The texture of the paper is visible beneath the washes of color and the scumbled graphite lines. The application is loose and gestural, and we can clearly see the movement of the artist’s hand. Boecan seems interested in exploring the potential of humble materials. Graphite and watercolor are widely available, and the techniques used in the drawing are straightforward. This is not to say that the work is unskilled. On the contrary, it is a demonstration of how much can be achieved with a minimum of means. Ultimately, this work invites us to consider the labor involved in artmaking, and the ways in which artists can transform everyday materials into something beautiful and meaningful. It blurs the boundaries between fine art and craft.