23 may 2024, Yves Joris
Strength and separation in the work of Steven Peters Caraballo
The exhibition The Vorce, featuring work by Steven Peters Caraballo, is inspired by the spirit of Arnold Böcklin's Isle of the Dead, in which the silence of death reigns, and Dante's The Divine Comedy, where souls meet their eternal fate. It is an artistic odyssey that takes the viewer on a journey through the numinous, an encounter with the unknown that transcends our daily lives. It is a journey that like all journeys, start with a single step, and we take this step in the company of the artist himself and Annelies Ysebaert from the eponymous gallery.
Steven Peters Caraballo, born in 1978, is an artist who lives and works in Hasselt. He earned a Master's degree in Graphic Design in Genk in 2001, but since graduating, has primarily fine-tuned his painting skills as a self-taught artist, the most suitable medium for him to explore the creation process and origin of his iconography. With The Vorce, his second solo exhibition, Caraballo builds on the recognition he has received from renowned artists. His work, which evokes doubt, questions and emotions, has a unique appeal and clearly echoes his technical virtuosity. He draws inspiration from his frequent travels to Venezuela, where he is influenced by the local people, culture, politics, nature and religion, all of which are reflected in his paintings.
Caraballo's artworks are like windows into another world, one in which mythical images and connections confuse and perhaps even unbalance us. His brushstrokes are thoughtful and deep, applied layer upon layer, providing us with a glimpse into the creation process. Every doubt and accidental insight that emerges during the process becomes ruthlessly visible in the work.
Steven Peters Caraballo, ‘The VORCE’, Gallery Ysebaert
Subtle wordplay
Caraballo's work is a modern odyssey that takes the viewer through a labyrinth of cultural and historical references. The title The Vorce is a playful combination of the words ‘force’ and ‘divorce’, a neologism that captures the essence of the exhibition. It is a force that both connects and separates, a theme that resonates throughout the history of art.
The artist draws inspiration from Arnold Böcklin's Isle of the Dead, a work that depicts the isolation and unreachability of death, and combines it with Dante's The Divine Comedy, an epic poem describing the journey of the soul through the afterlife. Caraballo's interpretation brings these two worlds together in a visual symphony of color and form, inviting the viewer to reflect on the transition from life to death.
Caraballo's paintings are imbued with deep cultural and philosophical meaning. His Isle of the Dead is not only an homage to Böcklin, but also a reinterpretation that raises timeless questions about existence. The ferryman Charon, traditionally depicted as an old man, becomes a young woman in Caraballo's world, a metaphor for renewal and the continuous cycle of life and death.
The art historical value of Caraballo's work lies in his ability to breathe new life into old themes. He gives classical iconography a contemporary twist, bridging the past and present. His technique, reminiscent of the old masters, is refined yet fresh, reflecting a deep understanding of the material.
Steven Peters Caraballo, ‘The VORCE’, Gallery Ysebaert
May the force be with you
The Vorce is also a cultural-philosophical reflection on the power of art. It shows how art can connect us with the deepest parts within ourselves and with each other, even when it comes to the most painful aspects of human existence. The exhibition invites introspection and offers a space for the visitor to process personal experiences of loss and separation.
The wordplay in the title The Vorce is a powerful reminder of the impact of art. It is a force that can uplift us and isolate us from our daily reality, leaving us with a sense of wonderment and sometimes loss. Caraballo's work is a testament to this force, a force that both connects and separates, inviting us to explore the complexity of the human heart.
In The Vorce, we find an artist unafraid to explore the depths of the human soul. Caraballo's work is an invitation to experience the power of art, to immerse ourselves in a world where the boundaries between life and death and between love and loss are blurred. It challenges us to consider the strength that lies within us all, even when faced with the ultimate separation.
