The intriguing works of South American artist Juan Jose Prada are structured around one guiding central idea – that of classical structure, the kind that inspired the timeless sculpture of Ancient Greece and Rome. In fact, in earlier years Prada was more attracted by sculpture than by paint, and he was strongly influenced by renowned sculptors Gustav Vigeland and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. However, his works demonstrate his mastery of the media he has chosen more recently – oil on canvas and pencil on paper. The artist tackles such demanding subjects as invulnerability and human archetypes, delving into the structures humans create to understand themselves and the world, just as he creates formal structures to act as the basis of his work. Prada speaks of the inspiration of past masters such as Picasso, Ingres and in particular Leonardo de Vinci. Yet his awareness of his Latin cultural heritage, combined with an understanding of art history, makes his style truly unique.
Juan Jose Prada currently lives and works in South America.