Juan Carlos Castro

Fuego Artificial

Curated by laurel sparks

4 4 3 P a s is pleased to announce Fuego artificial, an exhibition of mixed media works by Juan Carlos Castro.

“Hailing from seemingly contradictory cultures of Fashion and Buddhism, Juan-Carlos Castro’s studio practice explores the psychological realms of identity expression and drama. His photo-collages, videos and assemblages range from sublime to abject as he dissects the relationship between artifice and the nature of mind.” —laurel sparks, curator

a closer look at a wallpaper pattern reveals the ornate design to be comprised of miniature, overhead photographicself-portraits. at a distance, a large scale collage triptych composed of individually cut circles becomes an interlockingimage of blood cells and stars. other pieces range from velum-tiled digital scans of inside-out wigs and rolling marblesto actual synthetic hair and mixed media on wood panel. His video performance further explores the prevalent themeof circularity via spinning: the body in ritual movement and gender play—sequins, fire and a high-heel headstand—allcaptured from overhead by a rotating video camera.

at once symbolic and physically visceral, Juan Carlos’ work is an ongoing meditation on the centerless structure of identity and the unstable nature of binary stystems in the sphere of representation.

this is Juan Carlos Castro’s first solo show. He is the current advertising Design Director at Vogue magazine innew York City. He lives and works in Brooklyn, nY. notable exhibitions, performances and collaborations include“shapeshifters,” a group exhibition at 443 Pas in new York City in July 2011. He’s currently working on an ongoingcollection of “feather wiglets” with and for ana Matronic of the band scissor sisters, the first of which made its debuton the Monster Ball tour with lady Gaga, February 2011. In May 2009 he participated in the multimedia performance“Voice & light systems, Part Four: auroville“ produced by nick Hallet at the new Museum in new York City. In october 2008 he performed in a music video produced by English Kills for “royal Windsor Coven,” featured on The Fly DVD magazine, “the Conscious Dreams” Issue. In september 2006 he exhibited a wall mural collage in the group show “all the numbers I Know” at the rotunda Gallery in Brooklyn. In september 2002 he collaboratedin a group exhibit entitled “Funny, You Don’t look It,” at the Gallery @ Green street in Boston, Ma. He studied Fine arts at the school of the Museum of Fine arts, Boston (1992-1996) and advertising Communications at Emerson College (1996-1998).