Jose Luis Quiceno will be celebrating Valentine’s Day at Yas Mall’s Town Square on Sunday in an unusual way. He has been commissioned to paint a 3-D-style heart, featuring intertwined ribbons that represent the flags of different countries. We caught up with the UAE-based artist ahead of his live performance.
What will you be creating at Yas Mall?
I had two ideas to represent love for this project. One was a roller-coaster in the shape of a heart, driving us through all the different nations, but the other, which we decided to go with, was a ribbon made of international flags that forms a “heart” in its movement. This is one of my biggest installations so far. It is an artwork that will project love, peace and unity of the whole world. Valentine’s Day is not only about two people in love – it is about love in general. If there was just a little bit more love in the world, we would live in a much happier place.
Do you work from a sketch? How do you create art that has a 3-D effect?
For me, every sketch is a piece of art and takes a lot of time, so I don’t do paper sketches. 3-D art is all about perspective. There is no ruler, but there is an invisible grid that I work on. In all honesty, I use software that helps me to position objects in certain space. Of course I have to plan before I start, and this is the first time I have painted indoors. To achieve it, I have to make it in my warehouse on a vinyl sticker, then put it on ply wood, then cut it and bring it to the mall as an outlined finished piece. Then we will position the camera and I will repaint it and cover it all.
Do you enjoy working while people are watching you?
3-D art is a super-interactive activity. People love taking pictures and it is human nature to want to be part of the illusion. When I work, it is nice sometimes to have people asking questions – but not always as I have to focus. This time, we will make sure that there is someone to answer visitors’ questions. I am sure there will be queuing to take pictures once the art is ready.
Where can we see your other work?
I am a make-up artist and I do fine art, as well as designing clothes and costumes, and I do special-effect make up art and speed painting. 3-D art is my latest passion. I don’t have a website only for this, but people can follow me onInstagram @q_art_entertainment and on Facebook where my page is called Q Art.
• Jose Luis Quiceno is at Yas Mall on Sunday, February 14, from 3pm to 10pm. Other activities in the mall’s Town Square include a karaoke station and an interactive display, where visitors can participate in creating a community painting
aseaman@thenational.ae
