Old Steel – Jicé

Jicé 's work Old Steel

Jicé 's work Old Steel, is resolutely abstract while remaining rooted in the artist's characteristic industrial aesthetic. The canvas, with its imposing dimensions (100 x 100 cm), explores the materiality of worn metal, the textures of rust, and the rivets that evoke heavy industry. With a refined visual language rich in symbolism, Jicé offers us a reflection on time, decay, and the enduring nature of manufactured objects.

Composition and Structure: The composition of Old Steel is dominated by overlapping dark rectangular blocks, evoking steel plates or structural elements of metal. These forms recall industrial architecture. The placement of the vertical and angular shapes creates a sense of stability and heaviness, emphasizing the rigidity and solidity of metallic materials. At the center of the canvas, a section of riveted metal stands out. The rivets, the points of attachment that fasten the plates together, add a tactile dimension to the composition, creating visual appeal. The contrast between the rather dark metallic forms and the lighter background accentuates a feeling of heaviness. The lighter background creates a dynamic between the solid material and the empty spaces. Jicé thus manages to balance geometric abstraction with concrete elements that recall the manufactured nature of the motif.

Colors and Textures: The color palette is dominated by dark hues: black, gray, brown, and dark green. These colors evoke oxidized steel and surfaces weathered by time. Touches of orange and rust punctuate the composition, recalling the corrosion that inevitably affects metal exposed to the elements. These warm touches bring vitality to the painting and contrast with the cool tones of the steel. The texture of the canvas is a key element of the work. Jicé uses mixed media techniques here, with varying thicknesses of paint and textures. This textural richness reinforces the idea of ​​materiality and wear, evoking the roughness of metal and the way time alters the surface of objects. One can almost physically feel the surface of the old, degraded metal.

Symbolism and Interpretation: Old Steel is a work that explores the relationship between permanence and decay. Metal, often perceived as a symbol of strength and durability, is here represented in a state of transformation, altered by time and exposure to the elements. The rivets, which hold the plates together, symbolize the effort involved in shaping them. The whole piece suggests the inevitability of decay. Jicé to transcend the simple representation of industry to explore more universal themes, such as temporality and materiality. Metal, although it appears durable, always ends up succumbing to rust and wear, just as human constructions eventually fade with time.