Carlos Carulo was born in 1950 in Chile.
He studied architecture at the University of Chile and fine arts at the Arts and Technological College in Bradford, England. In 1977—after painting his way through Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Sweden, Spain, and Holland—Carulo joined the artist community of Santa Fe. His paintings and sculptures have been called “surrealistic,” “chilling,” and “high-tech” because of the way he combines hard edges, soft washes, and glazes.
Painting
I have been working at making art for about thirty-five years. I paint feelings, not facades when my emotions come across, that is when the geometry and the symbols come into my paintings. I begin each painting with totally abstract washes, which are pure feelings in color and form—simple, raw, and spontaneous.
Visual Language
My visual vocabulary is created by observing nature, our common culture, and trying to comprehend the meaning of life. Certain forms keep coming up in my works that match my emotional states.
No-Thought
When I start a painting or a sculpture, I put my mind in a relaxed, no-thought state, concentrating on my higher self. It is then that I feel the connection with the force that guides my hand across the canvas.
Luck/Chance
I make accidents and mistakes, and let the mistakes work for me in a visual way. Allowing this to happen, instead of trying to control everything, is like an experiment where one separates one’s true vision from trite formula.
The Studio
My studio is not just a place where I work, it is also a place where my family and my friends get together to talk, discuss art and art theories, and drink good wine. My show at the Goldleaf Gallery last year was based on conversations that took place in my studio.
Going with the Flow or Orchestrating a Career
I do both. I orchestrate my career to a degree, but I allow myself to follow the flow of things. My maJor responsibility is to create and to be honest in my work.
Why I Paint
Painting is like breathing—it is part of my life force and my soul. It is through my painting that I discover who I am. Every moment of my life is recorded in my mind—I have discovered how to access this, and that is how I can put my emotions and feelings onto canvas.
Quest
My quest is to create works of art that capture an emotion at an exact moment in time. What at first glimpse appears to be distorted is actually a complementary overlapping of temporal factors and spatial sectors. In this manner my forms and figures achieve a character of wholeness and presence.
