MAQET

MAQET caught up with Bay Area-based Yosiell Lorenzo for a quick chat about Revelations, bedtime stories, the color fuchsia, and, of course, his new MAQETs.

MAQET: For the non-religious among us, briefly describe The Book of Revelations.

YL: The Book of Revelations is the last book of the Bible which pretty much explains what will happen in the end of time, although it can be interpreted in many different ways. That’s pretty much what I got out of it as a young child. Funny thing is: I never read the ending, so for all I know it could turn into some peaceful journey. The first half of the book is serious though…If The Book of Revelations was a metal band, it’d probably be the heaviest band on earth. If taken literally that is.

MAQET: Dude, that sounds harsh. For your current solo show at Screaming Sky, you explained how your mother read you Revelations as bedtime stories. How did absorbing that kind of iconography at a young age shaped you as a person and an artist?

YL: I don’t think it really affected me in any way that was harmful. Since I was a young kid, I’ve always been fascinated with dark imagery and dark things in general that stimulated my imagination. So I was all for it: giant beasts coming out from the land and sea, moon turning into blood, pshh lets do this!

MAQET: Right on…So if you were to raise kids, what kind of bedtime stories would you read them?

YL: HAHA oh man not these for sure.  I think kids handle everything differently so it would depend. But if the young lad asked me “Dad why are you reading me these lame happily ever after stories,” I’ll bust out the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and it’ll be down hill from there, haha.

MAQET: How was working with MAQET for your art show?

YL: Using MAQET for the show was awesome: you can pretty much get your figure just the way you want it, and it was local which helped. We did this project within a few weeks and got the pieces on time for the opening, which you wouldn’t be able to do working overseas.

I think the main element that I wanted to convey on the MAQETs were the icons from the paintings. I wanted some recognizable elements, but at the same time to be able to have them stand alone as sculptures.  Obviously they weren’t mounted on horses so that’s why I had the image of a horse head on their backs. I’m sure people would put two and two together.

MAQET: Speaking of adding numbers, if you were to invent a Fifth Horseman, what would he represent?

YL: In keeping with the theme, I would say Deceit, and it would be a brown horse. On the other hand, something to counteract the other four would be the Horse of Love, preferably pink. Its rider would wear a fuchsia boa that would act as a whip to keep the other horsemen in check…

MAQET: Thanks Yosiell! The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are currently available in very limited numbers exclusively at MAQET.com.