Biography of Leónidas Cantillo, contemporary artist from Costa Rica

The painter Leónidas Cantillo born in San José Costa Rica on July 21, 1979.From an early age, he began studying painting with his father Edwin Cantillo, a renowned artist in the country. From this, several characters are involved with the arts, writers, musicians and painters who influenced his work and study.His technique evolved in the achievement of the landscape and the human figure, time where he did his first works in 1997.

 sample of his early works - 1998

Gradually he created his first painting concepts, proposals attracted so much admired by the Surrealists, as Giorgio D’Chirico, Magritte and Dalí, among others.

 "Cubos levitantes" - 1999

However, it is clearly evident given the influence of geometry of his father in the early years of development, especially in the works include a period between 2000 to 2002.
At this stage of his life, was both an assistant in the works of Edwin Cantillo, a student of his concepts, not even define their ideas at all, but setting a personal style in each of their jobs.

 

 monte árabe. 2000.

 In this works is observable geometric influence inherited from his teacher.

"Espíritus" - 2000 

For some years, had a strongly geometric style, coupled with landscape or human figure, among others, mixing concepts realistic, surrealistic and abstract.
Always emphasized a search to capture images spiritual cosmos. Without forgetting, of course, the philosophical argument, the idea of dreams and fantasy, and the tangible, to express an idea.

 

 "Transformación" - 2001

 

 "Meditaciones" - 2002

 "Sabiduría" - 2002

Gradually, his works, beginning to show the desire to delve into the nature, the desire to be part of the wind, a tree or sea waves, passing through a period where repeated continuously and landscapes with greater movement and life itself, but always surrounded by straight lines that affect it from the beginning of their learning.

 

 "Danza del árbol" - 2000

 Example of a long series of works with landscape elements

At the end of 2002, ended abruptly with this type of work to start a personal project he called "essentialism of light" in which incorporates the concepts of pure geometric abstraction, with sharp contrasts of light and shadow. This short period of his paintings can be seen as a farewell to the geometry that accompanied him from the beginning until now. Five years that mark a first stage investigation.

 

 "Reflejos" - 2003

 2003

Where he was then that Leonidas Cantillo called "the apex of change", where he began to rehearse in a kind of work without the limitations of geometry, an unknown road, but it led inevitably to the eddies of his mind their emotions and their freedom.
In this new issue we see the synthesis of the visual scene, abstracting and adding your own perceptions, together with anthropomorphic forms or daily life. The stylization of the human figure, the synthesis of landscape, inspired by how nature builds using organic shapes and curved lines.
-In this work becomes your way of painting, is given the freedom to start his own way, breaking with the geometry, using colors more vivid, and by floating its intention to provoke in his works the interpretation by the observer and the suggestion through scenes of each performer. Hence the title of the work also refers to something related to the "reality"

 

 "Erazumbia" - 2004

 

"Esparsopio" - 2004

 "Metamorfósis" - 2004

In the progress of his new term, we can find a wide variety of works, some abstract, some with human figures synthesized or camouflaged, plants, fruit, thorns ... and no end in ways that might suggest almost anything, as interpreted by the viewer.

In this work we can see the sense of what the artist tells us constantly, "discover the interpretation, not to impose"Organic forms, perhaps, or a hidden picture, or some subliminal figures … 

 "Nedisha y el Mirith" - 2005

 

"Kigenie" - 2005

 "Ciudad de noche" - 2005

"I do landscapes, because we can see and enjoy our surroundings, superior, unparalleled. The copy too, because you have to learn to imitate and then to invent. And do not paint the human figure because we constantly portray in photographs, memories and as we know it ... it is a work of art, no doubt, imitate him, I do not mind, but that this contribution to the evolution of art, I have my doubts ... I know we suffer, we laugh, we know the story well, we live constantly experiences with a table on this matter can not be overcome, only to portray. In the abstraction, invention, and the fusion of all things, I find concepts of greater richness of expression, freedom of thinking and thinking, proposing to see something different from what we constantly see, or seeing things more curious.
With all this, I construct mirrors the mind and soul, for the observer to get into my work and stay tuned to reflected, only to find their own ideas and form their speculations by mine. " 

"Intrigantes" 2005

"Maternidad" - 2006

In 2005 returned to Mexico after a previous six-month visit in 2002. Here begins a new chapter in his personal life to marry the violinist Katherine De Jesus. In November of that year his son was born Devra which had inspired from its inception a number of works with the theme of motherhood, many of which are now displayed in the "Sanatorio Mexico" in Toluca, Mexico State.

 "Resquicio místico" - 2006

 "Aire de invierno" - 2006

 "Algas rojas" - 2007

 "Astronomía" - 2007

In his recent paintings, abstract concepts looking to expand your copy over existing images, creating a world of their own based on what the artist calls "universal tendency to circle or sphere."

 "Constelación" - 2007

His work takes priority the new forms that do not relate directly to our everyday reality. Play with the volume, light and shadow, bright colors and contrasts in well-defined ranges. "It's the search for shapes and colors embody the concept of time, space, sound, the universe ... God." Suddenly taking into account the profiles of common objects, like a clock, a button or a window and taking them to mysterious ways that suggest a different course of observations of those invisible worlds for not taking enough care.

 "sonido de cuerdas" - 2008

 "sonido de cuerdas 2" - 2008

"A face or a tree, are only forms of life that we have associated with and become part of our reality. What I do goes beyond repeating everyday scenes. It's the sound of the wind, the crackling fire, or the sounds of a distant galaxy. You see a soap bubble in air or color tone of a stone. We can create for the hearing what you hear, or what is moving in the darkness of the universe. It is ironic that we have the ability to communicate with color and shapes our most accurate expression of feelings and ideas. That freedom of the artist, weird bohemian misunderstood us. "

 "Brujula de los astros" 2008

 "Sonidos arquitectónicos" 2009

Cantillo has managed to be released gradually in his native country, but is still in the process of recognition by the regional groups, and dominated the lack of cultural interest and the limited consumption of art pieces in this small Central American country.
However, it has gained greater recognition and cultural support in the brotherly country of Mexico, more precisely in the State of Mexico, where he lived for several years and was known as a young innovator in the field of plastic art. 

 "Tabernáculo de la sabiduría" - 2009

 "Espejo místico" - 2009

His work is exhibited in several public and private campuses, has won recognition and critical acclaim from the public in Mexico state.
He currently lives in San Jose, Costa Rica, constant in their work and occasionally exhibiting locally, looking for opportunities abroad, where to enter the international art market. 

 The painter and his works. 2010