Antonio Santín is a Spanish-born artist who lives and works in Bushwick, New York. I came across his rug series of paintings and was instantly captivated by the realism and detail. As I was drawn into the work, I had a growing sense of unease as I looked beyond the beautifully rendered pattern, light and shade to register the human forms hidden beneath.
In his work, Antonio explores the opacity of fabric as a device to obscure the body with abstract patterns and textures. He describes the space he creates by manipulating objects and the human form as “more real than reality itself”.
Oil paint is applied as a decorative texture in itself, giving an added dimension to the life sized artworks.
Studio photos: Fran Parente. Artwork photos via Antonio Santin.