Pato Bosich: Apotheosis of the Hero
Pato Bosich's art is renowned for its vivid and immersive abstract landscapes, seamlessly intertwining nature and fantasy. Through bold colours, intricate patterns, and a fluid style, his work transports viewers into mesmerising dreamscapes, blurring the lines between reality and the subconscious.
Born in Chile, South America, in 1978, Bosich has emerged as a significant figure in the contemporary art scene, finding his base in London.
His works are included in prestigious institutions such as the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Ateneum Art Museum in Finland, The Courtauld Institute, and London University in the UK, as well as the MSSA and MAM Museums in Chile. His global reach extends to showcases at Porter Contemporary in New York, Jano Arts and Fundació Catalunya Amèrica in Barcelona, and Sberbank University in Moscow.
Bosich’s mixed media pieces use a variety of techniques and materials, allowing him to experiment with form, texture and concepts. Critics have praised Bosich for his ability to merge the traditional with the modern, creating visually striking artworks that also carry deeper symbolic meaning. As with previous works by the artist, Bosich introduces us to worlds of playful, magical and dreamlike juxtapositions. Landscapes, characters, objects, and situations are re-invented and re-scaled, transforming their interaction into poetic apparitions. The artist’s continued interest in classical literature and Greek mythology, together with his fascination for their iconic subjects, can be seen.
“All the different periods and artists from the European tradition are contemporary to me: they are alive, and I invite them into my circus”, — Pato Bosich
The painting, "Self-Portrait in the Tower", 2022, is a metaphor of what is required to paint and to create. The artist is shown in a tower, representing the artist in his North London studio. High above, isolated on a sunset sky, the tower studio is perched among the trees. The artist’s arms and hands wave in the air in an attempt to regain balance. The studio represents the artist's body, the furnace of creation.
The wind, the height, and the pull of gravity might pose a threat to the isolation needed for creation. Leading up to the top of the tower is a stairway of red steps to access the studio. On the handrail, the artist's rucksack is to hand, ready to accompany him on future journeys into the outside world.
The eyes, the view, is the artist's window. On the table, we find the brushes, pots and liquids, the real tools for the realisation of the craft of being an artist. To the right side is the lit chimney. The fireplace is positioned at the heart of the studio and is a real-life feature in the artist's studio. Above the fireplace hangs a small self-portrait, and higher still, a horse, symbolising the artist's intention and animal being. He is ready for journeying and confronting the heights below.