Pow Martinez

Excellent overall condition as viewed, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. The paint layers and impastos are healthy. No restoration is found under ultraviolet light inspection. Unframed, on a Stretcher.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Pow Martinez’s New World evokes the excitement of discovery. A motley band of adventurers sailing across a harsh but strangely compelling sea, the painting captures the hope and anticipation that keeps every living being in pursuit of something, be it for food or shelter, fame or freedom, the spiritual or material.

 

Martinez is known for his fearless use of texture, applying layer upon layer of paint on canvas, imbuing the image with an extra sense of tangibility. His bold use of color and offbeat imagery speaks of a tongue-in-cheek sensibility that is playful, but not without yearning. His art inspires even as it disarms the viewer, its candidness a refreshing and updated take on humanity’s most perennial of desires.

 

The artist has mentioned that his work is a reflection of a combination of what his reality is, and what he thinks reality should be. New World depicts, in hyperreality, a favourite subject of the old masters: the journey. In it, an ark is crammed to overflowing with larger-than-life characters, all of them different, yet all of them focused on one goal, which lies beyond the canvas. They wear different facial expressions, their hues varied but bright, expectant, anticipatory. Behind them, a monochrome sky is slowly coloured by drops of water. Gentle rain has often been considered a sign of blessing and of good things to come. And so it seems here, as the intrepid sailors wait with baited breath for their ship, a material manifestation of their yet-to-be-met desires, to touch the shores of the promised land, where all they are free to make their dreams come true.