Inside Outside, 2020
18” x 24”
acrylic on canvas
Erik pays homage to his heritage and graffiti background in this vibrant, Mesoamerican day-dream.
We invite you to jump in…
“I work in layers. I explore free form linework and drawing, taking inspiration from Mesoamerican stone sculptures and street graffiti.
I draw as a way to plan and organize a larger piece. My work is always process based.
Printmaking, Graffiti, Graphic Design, and Muralism are all processes utilizing layers and color to get to a final piece. I allow for the work to be spontaneous in the creation of the composition, but planned and organized when creating the final work.
I like to know where I'm going and how I'm going to get there.”
-Erik Salgado
Erik holds a BA in Art and Design from Columbia College Chicago.
Conversation with Erik:
How would you describe your installation?
Three faces with bricks. I've been drawing in this style for about four years. They've turned into prints, murals, and paintings, but mostly have lived in drawing form.
The installation is made from drawings scaled up, taking over a space.
What do you want visitors to take away from your installation?
Visitors should take the work for what it is and engage with the bricks as they were meant to be. During these COVID times, it's a bit harder for the visitors to experience the bricks the way they were meant to be experienced. If anything, I would like the visitors to know what it is like to jump into one of my drawings filled with color.
What were some of the challenges you faced?
My biggest challenge was with the transformation of the space. The COVID situation created a big pause in the production of the installation, but also gave me a good amount of time to spend thinking about the final piece. This was the first time I would use papier-mâché in my work, which at first was a challenge, but in the end became another medium for me to put in my toolbelt of techniques.
How has the process of this installation transformed the way you think about your work?
This process has changed the way I think about transforming a space. It has encouraged me to develop my current style beyond a 2D medium.
Will you consider a more immersive medium for your artwork in the future?
This installation has shown me how to utilize papier-mâché and 3D design in my work. While my work lives primarily as 2D, the way we used the space for this exhibition makes me curious about the other possibilities for more immersive installations.
Installation Process:
To reimagine Inside Outside as a 3-dimensional space, Erik created three digital renderings of his installation concept for the Hokin team.
Members of the Hokin team assisted Erik with the installation. Two team members used papier-mâché techniques to add dimension and help the faces “jump off the wall.” Erik corresponded sections of the walls with labeled paint cans for team members to follow in a paint-by-number technique.
Once the papier-mâché pieces were complete, they were mounted to the walls by curator Evan Kasle.
They were then painted afterward by Erik, with the exception of the first attempt.
While Erik put the finishing touches on the murals, team members painted the interactive yellow blocks that were to be place atop a painted plinth that Erik painted at home.
Finally, Erik painted a semi-transparent face onto the main window of the Hokin gallery.
