I don’t think we have seen or even thought about papier-mache since we left school many (many ) years ago, unlike queer Mexican artist Joel Hernandez, who is just one of the contemporary craftspeople using papier-mâché in new and provocative ways.
Hernandez now lives in SF, but en route there, he lived in Texas for a while and that’s where he developed his passion. Well, one of them at least. He began collecting vintage wooden masks, and it made him think of what a dying art that had become. Artists don’t make masks for modern times to signify what’s going on and that’s when he decided to revisit the art form from his childhood
Hernandez has now lived in California for seven years, and he shared with Queerguru “As a gay man, there’s just something about the welcoming nature of Californians and how my sexuality, my marriage is not anything that anyone even.. It’s just normal here.”
In his work he references love whenever he can. One of his recent works shows two parrot masks with people inside. Although they’re both mustachioed men, what stands out is the look of love in their expressions. Hernandez explains, “I want the viewer to see that. I don’t want them to see two men falling in love, I want them to see love.” The fact that most of Hernandez’s work is inspired by his personal life, makes it that much mor special to us.
| You can buy your own piece of Hernandez art at his on-line Store |
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