The Argument Print

JRoldan was born in Colombia, grew up in the US, currnetly living and working in the Uk

ROLDAN HAS A DISTINCTIVE STYLE OF PAINTING THAT COMBINES LOOSE, EXPRESSIVE MARKS WITH PASSAGES OF GRAFFITI-LIKE WRITING.

SCRIBBLES AND SPATTERS FROM BRUSH, FROM FINGERS, AND FROM PENCILS BUILD UP A SENSE OF FEVERISH ENERGY AND PHYSICAL ENGAGEMENT.

ALTHOUGH BORN IN COLOMBIA, J.ROLDAN HAS LIVED IN THE UK SINCE THE 1980s, HIS WORK RELATES BOTH AMERICAN ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM AND FORMS OF GESTURAL ABSTRACTION THAT DEVELOPED IN EUROPE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR. AT THE SAME TIME, HE RECALLS THE EARLIER LANDSCAPE TRADITIONS OF TURNER AND MONET.

THE PAINTINGS BRING TOGETHER J.ROLDAN'S LOVE OF POETRY, A FASCINATION FOR CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY AND AN ABSORPTION IN THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHT. FRAGMENTS OF POETRY SCRAWLED ONTO THE CANVAS REFER TO THE TRANSIENCE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE, AND EVOKE THE SCATTERED REMNANTS OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS.

"ROBIN DUTT" ART CRITIC