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ARTICLES-SCULPTURE MAGAZINE: HERNAN DOMPE – The last look (June 17 ...

The last look consisted in an enormous serie of sculptures with pieces over 2 meters high, reliefs in pasteboard and paper, inspired by a tragic experience where Dompé lost his 25 years old daughter in 1999. Because of the pain, many months later the artist started working with these reliefs, which represent that final look over her dead body. And even with no idea of making a serie out if it, as time went by it turned into a homogeneous group, and still growing, like trying to set free something hidden but latent. Beautiful and solemn structures that when we approach and watch closely, we discover a dramatic story of suffer, love and the presence of tribute through the years. This exhibition was perfectly connected with The instant, an installation where a magnificent group of warriors faced the spectators in a defying way, like putting some stop to those trying to penetrate in the heart of their territory. Skinny characters in a human scale and even a little taller than a man`s media, they appeared with their war attributes, used to defend themselves from a hostile world. Strategically placed they displayed in the room where the final touch was given by a video reproducing drawings painted by the artist; the frame of the entire scene turned into a shinny dawn. The instant referred to that unique moment previous to action, an ephemeral or eternal moment according to our imaginary. For those familiarized with Dompé´s work, he already presented the warriors in other opportunities related with the Twin Towers tragedy or the horrendous wars in human history. This proposal alluded to the primitive and specially the colonization of America. Themes like the origin, the precarious, nature, they all play a fundamental role in his works and life style. These warriors aren´t violent or awake feelings of fear and distance in us. But they do demand respect though and carry a message related to the place each one of us occupies or should. The importance of being conscious of our responsibilities and personal battles, our own infernos and demons we should fight in order to be better people who enrich the others. That instant of introspection becomes an instant of decision, action and compromise. Just like when Dompé decided to do something with the pain that invaded him with Maria Mora´s death and turned it into pure creative fire. So these interpellant warriors push us so we face our own struggle within and we make a change. And we keep moving forward. I remember I asked him, how both series where connected and his answer was “The warriors help me so I can bare all this (regarding the last look)”. Born in Buenos Aires in 1946, Hernán Dompé lives on Capilla del Monte in the province of Cordoba in Argentina; Sculpture Professor with more than 10 international awards in sculpture, individual shows in USA, Argentina, Panamá, México, Chile, Brazil, Italy, Cuba and also participated in several international fairs such as ARCO, arteBA, Art Miami, Arteamericas, FIAC, Art Chicago.

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