Óscar Domínguez

description

A Spanish artist, sculptor and poet, an outstanding figure of Spanish Surrealism, along with Salvador Dali and Joan Miro. Oscar Dominguez was an ambiguous and controversial artist whose life ended tragically. As a child, he had acromegaly, which resulted in deformation of the bones of his face and limbs. Oscar’s non-standard appearance caused profound spiritual experiences, which were reflected in many of his works, especially self-portraits.

Paintings of the Spanish artist reflect the events of his life and are often provocatively shocking. They show everything that usually hides deep in the subconscious and is considered dirty and obscene. Dominguez often used the method of distorting objects and compared incompatible things, creating a strange and eerie atmosphere in his paintings.

The artist is also known as the author of the popular decalcomania method that was popular among Surrealists. The essence of this technique is in the chaotic application of a thick layer of paint on the surface, followed by the imposition of a second sheet on it, resulting in a fancy imprint. With its unpredictable effects, decalcomania presented new ideas to artists and awakened their imagination. Andre Breton included this method in his famous “Surrealism Handbook”, thus recognising the significant contribution of Dominguez in the common matter of the approval of this art movement.

Key ideas:

– The artist usually worked without a clear goal. Starting to create a work, Dominguez never knew what he would end up with. He trusted his imagination and tried to achieve the freest expression of it on the canvas. The plots of the works were fragmentary impressions from life, those he experienced in childhood, his new feelings, as well as those he imagined.

– The artist’s paintings attract your attention by their fabulous and emphasised sexual motifs. The fantastic is intertwined with the real, causing unpredictable and strange associations. In the canvases of the artist, the female body is presented not only as a source of pleasure but also as a hidden threat, overwhelming and absorbing the male essence. In the painting of Oscar Dominguez, immodest desires and secret fantasies of a person find a way out.

– Most of the paintings of the artist are provocative, shocking and even frightening. The author achieves the effect of surprise by converting some objects into others, their deformation, separation and connection of parts in the most incredible combinations.

– Dominguez interpreted the whimsical effects created with the help of decalcomania he invented according to his ideas. After the images dried out a little, the artist added the necessary elements and details, turning shapeless spots into familiar objects or parts of them.

+ Read more

1906

1918

1925

1931

1933

1934

1938

1947

1957

Óscar Domínguez was born

Óscar Domínguez was born in the Canary Islands, where he spent his childhood and youth. Oscar was the only son of a large landowner and soon lost his mother, who died a year after his birth. In childhood, the boy suffered several mental injuries and a serious illness that had a strong effect on his appearance, making his figure and facial features ugly.

Oscar went to La Laguna boarding school for education

At the age of twelve, Oscar went to La Laguna boarding school for education. During his studies, Dominguez did not do much success in science but began to draw and paint with oil a lot. His student artworks are mostly landscapes and human figures, made in a style similar to modern.

He moved to Paris

He moved to Paris, where he began working in the company of his father selling fruits. Apart from working as a clerk, Dominguez painted many portraits and attended exhibitions of contemporary art.

Oscar’s father died

After undergoing compulsory military service, the artist stayed to live in Paris. He met avant-garde artists and poets of the capital of France and became friends with many of them. Dominguez participated in a joint exhibition with French artist Lily Guetta, where she presented several of her canvases in a whimsical style with elements of erotica and sarcasm. In the same year, Oscar’s father died, leaving his family in a difficult financial situation.

The first personal exhibition

The first personal exhibition of the artist was held at the Gallery of Fine Arts in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Most of those paintings were devoted to the nature and customs of the Canary Islands and made in a surrealistic technique. A great influence of the style of Pablo Picasso in noticeable in them.

The artist joined the circle of Andre Breton

The artist joined the circle of Andre Breton, which greatly influenced the plots of his paintings. Dominguez’s canvases became utterly surreal. During this period, he created most of his most famous works, such as “Electro-sexual sewing machine” and “Draconian tree.” At the same time, the artist began to apply the technique of decalcomania, which was later used by many Surrealists, including Max Ernst. Then Breton added this technique to the Surrealism Handbook.

Oscar Dominguez took part in the international exhibition "Surrealism"

Oscar Dominguez took part in the international exhibition “Surrealism”, organized by Breton and Eluard at the Galleria de Beaux-Art in Paris. At the exhibition, which became the largest exposition of this style, the artist presented several of his paintings and design works. Dominguez also worked closely with Surrealist poets, creating illustrations for collections of poems by Lautréamont and Breton.

"They look at each other"

A collection of poems by Dominguez entitled “They look at each other” was published. Besides that, the artist wrote several articles, in which he revealed the basic principles and described the technique of surrealism.