Pedro Martin De Clet
Pedro compulsively re-examines the self-portrait. The outer guise changes from devil to angel,
warrior to clarion. His physical scars are always apparent; the psychological scars remain hidden
below layers of paint and wax. The repeated retelling begs for a witness; the validation of a
witness helps to ameliorate the pain. His prison years and his involvement with the Latin Kings
are far behind him, only occasionally resurfacing as fodder for his art.
Pedro is exquisitely aware of the art world, and the poetry and prose of the most renowned authors
and wordsmiths; however, his work is not at all derivative. It is purely his own vision, his own
pain. He defies convention, frequently breaking social taboos by his use of frontal nudity. He
dares you not to turn away, and he demands that you see his powerful images barely contained
within the context of the paper. His use of color is seductive, giving the eye a resting place
before revisiting the image in its entirety. Although completely self-taught, his frequent use of
both Latin and Spanish text within his work gives it a unique sophistication. His self-portraits
reveal him as he is--sweet, moody, confrontational, scarred, and hopeful.
View Works by DeClet