Guillermo Lorca – La Vida Eterna

A combination of life and death, with a lot of death. In ‘La Vida Eterna’ by Guillermo Lorca, the general aspect of the painting is dark and gloomy.
In the center, a three-branched old tree. On each side of that same tree, dogs laying and waiting. From the floor to the sky, the color tones confirm the transition the weather is experiencing. It’s fall. But It’ll be winter in no time.  The tree, the central element, is the home of birds of all kind and a little girl looking at us upside down.

The color scheme is soft and powdery. The floor is covered with fall leaves and its brown and green tones is blending with the dogs’ fur. As the eye wonders towards the top of the tree, the colors are fading, becoming white and grey. The sky is foggy and the color of the clouds predict a heavy atmosphere.
The association between the green grass and the roots close to the ground symbolizes life, and the ongoing process of rebirth. In contrast with this image is the shadowy sky suggesting hell and its counterpart, death.

The painting breathes opposing elements. Representing simultaneously life and death : the dying tree, the dark clouds and the ravens VS the green grass and leaves, the three dogs and the child.

The painting breathes opposing elements. Representing simultaneously life and death : the dying tree, the dark clouds and the ravens VS the green grass and leaves, the three dogs and the child.
The appearance of the little girl with her long red hair hanging from one of the branches is creepy yet reassuring. We are equally charmed and cautioned by her red gory hair.  The presence of blood on the hair mirrored with the leaves on the ground does not foreshadow a positive ending to this scene. Will the girl fall and die? Is she inviting us to play? Will we also die?

Will the girl fall and die? Is she inviting us to play? Will we also die?

All these questions are amplifying the sensation of suffocation released by the painting’s atmosphere.
In a scene where it’s hard to breath and where the future seems compromised, the presence of a child represents hope. We are tempted to mimic her innocent attitude. Although she might not be aware of what the context she is living in foreshadows.

Tempted to glimpse at the scene with terror and to quickly look away, we are yet enticed to stay still and admire the beautiful details and colors. As we do so, it appears that the inhabitants of this picture are familiar with one another. The dogs are calm and the birds know they way around the tree. The longer we stare are this ancient majestic tree, the more we humanize it. Seeing its face, amongst the twisted branches on the girl’s left side.

Hidden meanings and personal perceptions are meant to crawl into our imagination. Opening the doors to our unconscious and our inner turmoil.

Hidden meanings and personal perceptions are meant to crawl into our imagination. Opening the doors to our unconscious and our inner turmoil.

Paranoia and the perception of death are recurrent themes in Guillermo Lorca’s pieces. Depicting realistic images, subjects that are particularly beautiful in association with crime scenes, he embarks us subtly into his fantasy world.