AGUSTIN CASTILLO — MALIBU ARTS JOURNAL INTERVIEW
Interview by Josh Hasting (July 2008)

Agustin Castillo: Abstract

Born in the city of San Jose, California, Agustin Castillo has a cross cultural upbringing between America and Mexico, where he has lived most of his life. His works are defined by his use of color that keeps only an allusion to the original. Hints of Picasso are evident, but digging deeper one can see zoomed-in cross sections of the tumultuous Goya. Abstract work from Castillo is capable of burning, corroding and destroying in its deep emblem of sexuality.

“The concept of development is essentially based on the interrelation between color and texture inside the same space, just as the intention of suggesting that different states of mind are brought together with the spontaneity of the moment. This is how color takes on its own existence inside the different compositions creating its own interest, as the texture is based on the union of different materials creating an energy that invades the spectator,” Castillo says in his artist's statement.

Castillo has a practice of leaving each piece untitled.

MAJ: Why do you feel that by not giving a work a title you therefore do not tell the viewer how to feel about your art?

Castillo: My priority as an artist is to create an emotional link between my work and the spectator in a direct, pure and natural way. Each and every individual has his or her own perception of color and composition. It is very important that the viewer has total control of the emotion produced by use of color, texture and form. Therefore, there's no limitation in how to feel or view my artwork.

MAJ: Why did you choose to work in abstract art?

Castillo: It was a natural process for me, and even though I enjoy very much working on Figurative and Surreal art, I found unlimited ways to express myself doing abstract. It is a perfect bridge for my emotions to explode visually upon layers of color and strong textures, giving me a huge range of creativity.

MAJ: It seems as though from your artist's statement that you use spontaneous, automatic or subconcious creation. Is there an intentional blur between the surreal and abstract?

Castillo: I don't feel there's an intentional connection between surreal and abstract regarding my work. The process of creation is entirely emotional without any labels, always trying to engage the audience's aesthetic sensibilities to my work.

MAJ: Who are your major influences?

Castillo: In my early years, I was captivated by the art of Masters like Dali, Tanguy, Miro, Picasso, Kandinsky, Mondrian and Orozco, among others, but I have always been looking for my own sense of expression.