Exploring the Artistry of Tony Torres: A Glimpse into a Different Reality :By Rene Ramirez

In the vibrant city of Los Angeles, a recent art exhibition has been captivating art lovers, inviting them to immerse themselves in the captivating creations of the artist, Tony Torres. With a deep sense of purpose, Torres creates rituals that go beyond mere visual appeal – they serve as both protective barriers and windows into an alternate world. Through his art, he unveils a realm that has been shaped by numerous personal experiences, lacking a formal definition yet firmly grounded in the passage of time.

Tony Torres, an artist who considers his work a heartfelt offering, encourages viewers to step into his world not necessarily to intellectually comprehend it, but to find their own connection within it. The recent exhibition in Los Angeles stands as a testament to his instinctive approach. Attendees are drawn not by explicit explanations, but by an unspoken resonance with the intricate emotions and life moments embedded in each ritualistic creation. Torres' art communicates on a level that surpasses verbal expression, prompting visitors to embark on a journey of self-discovery within the limitless expanse he presents.

Introduce yourself and what you do

My name is Juan Antonio Torres , a visual and auditory artist born and raised in the Bay Area. I have been an artist as long as I can remember and will continue to be throughout my life. My early high school years were when I first gained noticeable attention through my graffiti work as well as music production. I went on to earn a degree in Printmaking (specifically lithography) as well as Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin. I returned home from college and began shifting my focus from mainly printmaking back to painting. For the last year I have been working out of my studio in Los Angeles on this solo show “Rituals”, and in August I will continue my education at the Rhode Island School of Design studying Printmaking.

Your description of rituals as a form of protection and a world crafted from experiences is intriguing. Can you share a specific ritual you've created and explain its significance?

My use of the word rituals as the title for the show is directed towards my personal life experiences and how they shape my day to day actions. My rituals, whether I am currently aware of them or not, make up my understanding of the world around me. My art has always been graphic and figurative characters, yet I was always searching for where they existed. This show will display my contemplation within the last year, much of which has been centered around the fact that my characters exist right here in the world I stand in, just through my personal lens.

An example of a ritual to me could simply be taking the time to be present in a moment and listen to the world around me. Our world, dynamic and ever changing, is why I titled the show rituals, not simply ritual. It is the sum of these rituals that tracks our human experience and history, and one ritual cannot exist without another.

How do you believe your art creates a space for individuals to look inward and discover their place within this world you've crafted?

I have always enjoyed creating characters because I feel as though they are quite subjective. I can design them based on my emotion and ideas, but the viewer can possibly see them in a completely other way. While in some pieces my idea may be quite direct, for the most part I hope whoever views my work brings their own thought process and uses that to interact with the art. Art for me is pure reflection, and even at times I may not understand I am reflecting, I will often look back and use my work as a tool to navigate my own mind.

The concept of a world without a name that adapts with time sounds fascinating. How do you see your art evolving over the years, and how does it reflect the changing experiences in your life?

I explain this world my characters reside in like this because like our world, it will constantly be in motion. I see myself continuing to use my characters as a means of sharing my ideas, but I am constantly seeking growth in my practice. When I return back to graduate school I see myself meshing my printmaking knowledge back into my work with the painting experience I have gained this last year. I fell in love with printmaking because the process in itself is a ritual. While forgetting the imagery and idea, I can become lost in the intuitive yet detailed process that turns a thought to a finished artwork. Painting on the other hand is very much decision and thought oriented, and much of painting is knowing the next step you would like to take. I see a combination of the two now bringing a new life and complexity to my work, but I will not hold myself to any expectations of what it might look like.

Your art exhibition in LA sounds exciting. Can you provide some insights into what visitors can expect to see and experience during the two-day event?

The show will be a combination of 35+ new art pieces, mainly paintings, made within the last year and music. I will also be releasing a new album which was made during the same time period. Both days are welcome to everyone. The first day will be an traditional gallery opening from 4-8pm with drinks. Around 9pm the music will begin, with an opening performance from my brother Austin Chandler (ahunnidiloveit!). After his performance I will perform my album and the night will continue on as an after party until midnight. The second day will be an open gallery all day from 12-8pm for all who missed the first night or would like to come back and view the work again. Maybe I will be better then like tighten your abs up in tighter out you can fill out a time to pull it up and down. You can breathe it so your hips bro or what pull your lower back tight.

Rituals often carry cultural and traditional significance. Do you draw inspiration from any specific cultural or spiritual practices in your art, or do you create entirely new and unique rituals?

Like my Mesoamerican ancestors who are native to the land I stand on, I view art and what we know as writing to be the same thing; history. Differentiating the two is dangerous and can cause us to lose connection to the world around us. Visual depiction is deeply rooted in human history and I believe my work is no different. Mayan and Aztec imagery has always been something I have felt tied to, and it is my duty to provide current day works to replace the many that were lost in years of colonization. Writing books to trace history was a foreign idea to my ancestors, and they physically drew their history, but there really is no difference other than the form of the information. I am tied to them spiritually and genetically, but my rituals and imagery are simply a new processing of the world around me. It has changed quite a bit since then, and it will have changed again by the time I am no longer around to exist with my art.

As an artist who focuses on introspection and intuition, how do you hope your audience will engage with your artwork during the exhibition?

First and foremost, I hope my viewers feel connected to the work. I believe my introspection is shared, and based around ideas many people share. My goal with the work in this show was to create something anyone can find a place within, and draw their own conclusions from that place. Although in clear instances my art is guided from personal experience, there are no right or wrong or definitive answers, just feeling and experience.

Your art seems to invite people to delve into their own personal journeys. How do you strike a balance between creating art for yourself and creating art that resonates with a broader audience?

This is tricky to answer because I often find myself working on art alone. Physical art for the most part is a very solitary action overall and is contradictory of a place inviting to others. I find much of my introspection happens outside of my time making art. Interaction with my environment, friends, strangers, animals, etc. all inspire me in ways I sometimes can’t process through language. I believe they show themselves through my work and in turn provide open ideas people can connect to.

LA is known for its diverse art scene. How do you feel your unique artistic approach will stand out in this vibrant and dynamic environment?

I believe this show will be a combination of both my art and music backgrounds in an event form. This will be a bit different from a contemporary gallery show because of the music component. I am the curator and designer without gallery backing, just a fantastic support system of close friends and family. It will also be a bit different from a music performance because it will take place inside a gallery. I am beyond excited for everyone to experience it.

During the exhibition, will you be actively involved in guiding visitors through the experience, or do you prefer to let them interpret and engage with your art independently?

I will definitely be interacting with visitors, but my favorite part about having my art up for viewing is hearing the response from people with a fresh view. I have been in my studio for months on months with many of the pieces and you can forget that feeling of how it first felt, and having a new eye and mind interact with the piece can bring that back to me. I absolutely love showing art in a gallery setting and will be forever grateful. I believe every artist should push themself at least once to display art for public viewing because it holds infinite lessons.

Rituals often involve repetition and symbolism. How do you incorporate these elements into your artistic process, and what message do you hope they convey to your audience?

Over much time I learned art is my duty, not only to myself but to the greater world around me. Now that I understand this, I must stay consistent with my craft while also diving into the uncomfortable in order to adapt. While some may comment on the style and symbolic nature of my characters, they will continually evolve alongside me. People have mentioned my work having a style, but it is not my focus. I cannot predict my future, and there may be a day where I no longer feel a need to use characters within my work, but for now they seem to be my symbol and repetitive instinct as a means of visual communication. I hope that people look at my work and see someone on a journey, and I hope they join me on it in whichever way feels true to them.

As an artist, how do you navigate the intersection between the spiritual and the artistic in your work?

Over the last few years, I have began to understand my spiritual side through my artwork. With time comes clarity, and althought I was confused about what spirituality meant to me for a long time, it began to appear to me. My artwork may be something I cannot and never would have been able to explain with words

What does the future look like for Tony Torres?

The future looks like a beautiful and chaotic dream. There have been dark times I never would have believed what my current life looks like, and for that I am thankful and cherish every second. I have been blessed with incredible connections to so many people that inspire me on a daily basis and for that I feel as if I owe the universe in return. I look back specifically at my early art teachers because they were the reason I found meaning throughout my crazy years as a teenager. I can tell you one thing I plan to do within my life time is become an art teacher at some level. Shoutout to my mentors Faisal Abdu’Allah, Andy Rubin, Fred Stonehouse, and John Hitchcock. They convinced me to apply to graduate school and get my MFA, and once I have that I think a beautiful new chapter in my life will begin. It will be one centered in providing back to others the staircase I was fortunate enough to walk up.

Why does Tony deserve to be in FIRSTPLACE?

I deserve to be in FIRSTPLACE because my focus is on the journey and what it can teach me. I am in competition with no one other than myself. I will lift up those around me and we will each see the highest point of the mountain side by side.

I deserve to be in FIRSTPLACE alongside those who serve this life through art. I have found something to place my heart and soul into, and it is my only wish that those searching for whatever that is to them can find it as well.

I deserve to be in FIRSTPLACE but will I ever find the finish line??

You can find a check out Tony’s work by visiting his site @ https://www.tonytorres.org/