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The purpose of art is to perpetuate beauty.
“That is what I am always striving for. God created the world and embellished it with the wonders of nature. I think it is the artist’s job to embellish it with his work.”
The continue searching for greater self expression and artistic truth…
Fabian Perez born on November 2nd, 1967 in the city of Campana, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He left his hometown at the age of 20 and began to travel the world looking to develop his artistic talent inherited from his mother.
From an early age he loved to draw and his mother, Edua, would proudly display these endeavors. Meanwhile, Fabian’s mother, who was artistic herself, encouraged her son to develop his aptitude for art. He was also passionate as a boy about soccer and martial arts—the latter becoming an integral part of his life and his work as an artist.
“I remember at the age of 11 quitting my first class because there was a World Cup soccer match. I did not take art classes in school, or even finish high school, but when the teachers wanted a drawing of, say, an Argentine hero, they always came to me.”
His father, Antonio, was the owner of several nightclubs, one of the famous named “Las Brujas” become an important subject in Fabian’s collection. He remembers himself as a little boy who would admire the beautiful women and suffering handsome man inside and outside “Las Brujas Bar” lighting a cigarette, having a drink, or just enjoying the night.
As a young adult, he did decide to take a few art courses to learn more about the true craft of drawing and painting, but it was never formal training.
It is imagery from his past that he draws from in his painting, his father his inspiration. He is the cool guy outside the nightclubs and bordellos in Fabian’s images.
And the women are his memories of those he saw at his father’s brothels and nightclubs—their somber mood, brooding thoughts and intense sensuality emanating from his canvases.
The scenes from his youth in Argentina reflect a time that, in his view, is more romantic than the present day.
“A time when the man would take pride in shaving or simply fixing his tie. And the woman would follow a routine of slow and sensual movements, seducing a man just by lighting a cigarette.”
For several years after his parents died, his mother when he was 16, his father when he was 19, he lived as a gypsy. The sadness and despair he experienced left him confused and searching for answers. It was in martial arts that he found an inner strength.
Untitled II
He immersed himself in the discipline with the dream to become a karate master.
Alone and struggling to take care of himself, he began to teach karate while living in martial arts studios or friends’ homes.
It was then that he crossed paths with a Japanese karate master, Oscar Higa, who became his teacher, mentor, friend and father figure.
Fabian spent some time in Rio living the life of a nomad, finding refuge on warm beaches. Then he collected himself, deciding to follow Oscar Higa to Italy. It was in the small town of Padova outside Venice, that he began his career as an artist and began having small exhibitions. European tourists liked his work. After seven years in Italy, where he traveled frequently, teaching martial arts, he went to Japan and continued to teach karate, not realizing that martial arts would become such an influence in his painting technique and, indeed, in his life’s path.
Inspired by the Shodo, he utilized this influence to combine figurative and abstract styles. Shodo is often practiced by Samurais and Buddhist monks. It is as much a discipline as an art form.
Fabian explains, “With Shodo, one sits on the floor with a sheet of rice paper, a brush and Chinese ink. The artist begins to concentrate and, when he feels ready or the urge strikes, he starts to paint. When a stroke is made on the paper, the artist cannot turn back. If he is unhappy with what he has created, he must start all over. Even when I’m going backward and forward with my colors, the important thing is the determination of each stroke.”
Neo-Emotionalism
Fabian Perez is the creator of “Neo-Emotionalism” style of art. The artist has proposed this name to designate his artworks characterized by emotion, mundane passion, dramatic narrative, and a heady atmosphere.
“Neo-Emotionalism is a style that will be recognized by the artist who feels liberated after finishing his work, and by the viewer who can feel the artwork in his heart”.
“I never judged or analyzed my technique, neither my subjects. Meanwhile I work, I interpreting what I see, and I fudge my self into the essence of creating. I consider a painting “good” when is genuine, and shows the feelings of the artist thru his skills. The creator and the creation need to match. Art shouldn’t be considered by the meaning, but for what express. Many times we don’t know what an artist wants to say in his work, but we can have a re-action from his expression. That’s why I created the NEO-EMOTIONALISM movement with not technical boundaries.”
Today Fabian lives with is wife Luciana and his three children Camila, Tiago and Santino in Los Angeles. Lucy is in many of his paintings.
“For her, nothing is impossible. If I wish for something, she will try to make it possible for me.”
“I am constantly fighting for a more romantic world, one where the woman and the man have defined roles and power isn’t always the goal.”
The influence of artists such as Lautrec, Picasso, Sargent and Cezanne are felt in Fabian’s work. “But in the end it is my own,” he says.
“My paintings are dark, because I try to only give an idea. Not every detail. I prefer to paint the moods in color, so the viewer gets a sense of what is being felt. Painting is a wonderful way of communicating with people. It can be hard to explain everything that I feel and, in some way, people understand when they look at my art better than I could ever say it.”
He likens painting to music and this is particularly evident in his Flamenco pieces, where the dancer creates complex rhythmic patterns.
“I compare color and technique with music and rhythm, the subject matter and composition with lyric and poetry. I want to invite the viewer to remain in front of my paintings, not feel rejected by them. The longer they linger, the better my chance to communicate with them. When music is gentle, people will listen to it. I take things that people like to look at and then they see more deeply into it.”
Fabian’s prestigious appointments include official artist to the Latin Grammy Awards 10th Anniversary, to the Winter Olympics, trophy designer for the American Cup best player, and his work is owned by an extraordinary number of famous collectors ranging from President of Argentina Mauricio Macri, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Ringo Starr, to significant figures on the world stage including Pope Francis.
“ It took many years for my wheels to travel on a sandy road. Along my way I have left behind many things, and so many others that I have lost. But the wheels keep turning, and I can see the road straight ahead of me, and I know that road will lead me to many new experiences. My future in art is as complex as finalizing a painting. I see it and I realize it, it is not a process that takes hours, it is not by the meter or a race against time. Intuitively I feel it, it is a movement, an energy. I do not know what the result will be, but I will take it to the limit so that it becomes a masterpiece” Fabian Perez