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In a series of hyper-realistic paintings depicting traditional rugs, artist Antonio Santin studies the structure and folds of the material while asking the viewers to consider their own insecurities.
In his works, the New York-based artist juxtaposes flattened planes with tangible forms carved by light and shadow to create a continuous perceptual dialogue in each piece. In a series of oil paintings, he fills the nearly five-foot long canvases with endless details that mimic the texture of a rug’s bulges, suggesting there’s a human body hidden underneath them. In his artist statement, Santin says: “When we sweep something under the rug we chose to hide something embarrassing, a problem or secret we don’t want to deal with. There’s a vast metaphorical rug dissecting all aspects of our reality and each of us needs to find out where we stand or want to be; on top or under that rug”.
