Artist Sol Halabi will be coming to Columbus Friday for her first solo show in the United States.
Halabi, 32, is a native of Cordoba, Argentina and has been painting since 1996 when she began studying at the School of Arts of the National University of Cordoba. She considers her work to be closely related to her, as if it were a part of her.
The subject of the “unconscious” manages to trickle throughout her work, and Halabi is very aware of how it integrates into what she creates.
“By creating, the unconscious manifests itself as an instinctive force that directs the action of painting — choosing the motifs, colors, elements and intensity of each of these,” she said. “When a work is seen, the unconscious contents enter into the plane of consciousness.”
Halabi said her daily routine stimulates her creative process. She said her mornings begin with swimming, and she then gets dressed comfortably before going to her studio. She loves music and has several CDs that she listens to while working in her studio.
“The music accompanies particular painting moments,” she said. “Soft music in the faces, rock in the backgrounds.”
Sometimes she begins two pieces of art simultaneously, but suddenly one of the works will absorb her and take all her attention.
Halabi said she often becomes obsessed with a piece and has to work on it until it is finished. “It can take a lot of days, but when it ends, it is a magic moment. Something in you says, ‘It is finished.'”
She uses a diverse mix of materials to make her art: oil, acrylics, tints, bitumen, gold and sometimes sand. Each material gives her art a special quality and sensation, she said.
Once the artistic process begins, Halabi said she avoids overthinking the product.
“I seek not to think, only concentrate on the action,” she said.
She said Latin American culture’s ability to merge old and new trends influences Halabi’s work.
Halabi’s work was first recognized in 1999 when she won a drawing
contest in Cordoba. Her first major exhibition was in 2002 at the Municipal Cultural Center of Cordoba, and she continues to showcase her work in the United States, Latin America and Germany.
There is no specific kind of art that Halabi feels she is making. She feels that to try and define her art would only distract from the possible interpretations.
“I just paint,” she said. “I do not like definitions. A definition helps to understand what is in front of you, but also works as a filter … When you only observe, another kind of knowledge emerges.”
Halabi’s art reception will last from 6 to 9 p.m. at A Muse Gallery. A Muse Gallery is located at 996 W. Third Ave., Grandview Heights. People interested in attending the event can RSVP by calling 299-5003. Details can be found at www.amusegallery.com.
