Studio Lenca's Unique Naïve Art
- Tae Yong AHN
- Aug 7, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 19, 2022
Studio Lenca had his first Asian solo exhibition in Seoul, recently, at Tang Contemporary. I had a tour of the exhibition which was strikingly attractive.
Studio Lenca is his stage name. He was born in El Salvador in the 1980s. He and his mother had to enter the United States in late 1980s by land to escape the most disastrous civil war in El Salvador that lasted from 1972 to 1992. Dislocation of a very large number of refugees took place as a result of the civil war, and mostly they went across the border of the United States. This diaspora was so historical that even now, the refugees at this time form one of the largest immigrant communities in the US.
Studio Lenca spent his youth in California in the community of El Salvadorian immigrants as an 'illegal alien' family. He later moved to London and studied at the art school there. So his memory of his youth was a memory of difference and discrimination as a minority group member. All the more so because he is also a queer.
So, many commentators of Studio Lenca's art begin with this background of the artist. They are quick to say that because of such history of the artist, Studio Lenca's art represents the story of dislocation and alienation. They may not be too wrong because Studio Lenca himself says that such background is indeed the foundation of his art. He says "This experience of being uprooted serves as a framework for my ideas to be read by others as themes of identity, belonging and oppression are universal."
However, once you have a tour of his exhibition, you will be surprised by how bright and playful his art is. Honestly, I expected there would be some spots, or at least some hidden spots, of dark memories in his art. But, when I was faced with his artworks, I was unable to find any such suggestions in his art.
Of course, in his paintings, certain images of moving and leaving, such as a truck where many people are onboard the tray, or the people about to go somewhere with some large bags, are adopted. But in any event even of such themes, his artworks are full of bright colors and spirited lines and playful figures. No darkness. No gloominess. Viewing his exhibition was a pure pleasure.
In my view, his style is reminiscent of what is known as 'Naïve Art'. Wikipedia defines Naïve Art as
"visual art that is created by a person who lacks the formal education and training that a professional artist undergoes (in anatomy, art history, technique, perspective, ways of seeing). When this aesthetic is emulated by a trained artist, the result is sometimes called primitivism, pseudo-naïve art, or faux naïve art."
Wikipedia continues to explain:
"Unlike folk art, naïve art does not necessarily derive from a distinct popular cultural context or tradition; ... Naïve artists are aware of 'fine art' conventions such as graphical perspective and compositional conventions, but are unable to fully use them, or choose not to. ...
Naïve art is recognized, and often imitated, for its childlike simplicity and frankness. Paintings of this kind typically have a flat rendering style with a rudimentary expression of perspective."
Unlike other artists of the Naïve Art, who enjoy high reputations in today's art market, Studio Lenca is a formally trained artist. His choice of childlike simplicity and frankness is not the result of lack of art education but should be with his own insight into art. To understand his art, it is important to understand the meaning of his name "Studio Lenca". I will address this point in the next post.
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