Juan Lopezdabdoub

Juan Lopezdabdoub creates profoundly allegorical painted works to depict the inherent contradictions he observes around him. He sees the world as one full of delirium, delusion, obsession and fanaticism, which drive the unconscious to extremes. These dramatic opposites in turn translate onto the canvas as jarring juxtapositions with little gray area between their polarized imageries. Lopezdabdoub directs the viewer to decipher his allegories as a reader would decipher a text: "I think of my paintings as sociological, political, philosophical and psychological visual essays. I use symbols and make references to mythology and culture to engage the viewer in conversations about the most basic meaning of life and to enrich and deepen our understanding of the human condition." Indeed, the paintings task the viewer with translating the disparate elements of political histories and psychological narratives that are scattered throughout the compositions, sometimes readily legible and sometimes mysteriously cryptic.

Born and raised in El Salvador, Juan Lopezdabdoub moved to Canada with his family in 1991 leaving a Salvadorian civil war behind. He studied art at the University of Manitoba and is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for his painting, including two university gold medals for outstanding achievement in Fine Arts.