Wk6- Artist Conversation- JP Gonzales

Artist: JP Gonzales

Exhibition: Afterburn

Media: Sculpture, Plastic, Installation

Gallery: LBSU School of Art, Max L. Gatov Gallery

Website: Under construction

Instgram: N/A

LBSU undergraduate student JP Gonzales is working towards his degree in the School of Art’s Sculpture/ 4D Program. It is his third year in LBSU in the Sculpture BFA Group and I had the opportunity to interview him about his piece named Drive, that was inspired by a dream and the end of a relationship.

JP’s installation caught my attention because it straight up looks like a dead body that is being disposed of after a heinous crime but the dreamy effect it had that made it seem like everything was under control. The clear plastic that goes over the “body” gives it that dreamy filter and has a video playing behind it.

Since it is called Drive one would naturally put themselves as a driver when observing the piece. I feel the ride and bumpy roads and hear the occasional thump of the corpse moving in the trunk. The cool tones that are shades of blue allow the night to be lit. A black trash bag is used with silver duct tape around the neck, elbow-length, thighs, knees, and ankles are wrapped with silver tape. The driver’s view shows an empty street where the streetlamps are bright. The video was taken around 10 pm or 11 pm to have a more somber tone.Live in the Drive

His inspiration came to him through a series of events in his dreams and personal life. This piece, in particular, had more meaning to life than death. It represents a part of his life being killed away with its memories to remain simply that. Subconsciously his dreams translated into what was happing emotionally in his life that gave that dream meaning. When he first began his art piece, there was no real emotion to it that gave it character. Somewhere along the way, he gave that corpse a life of its own and a face that represented someone to him. By going through the art process of coping with his emotions of anger, and sadness he learned how to feel those feelings while creating Drive. The ideas explored in Drive, were of moving on from the past. It can also convey his old self being removed to grow into a new person.