The Sleep
Heavy Metal music is one of the most expressive and emotionally charged forms of music out there. It’s no wonder that the art work of Modern Master Vincent Castiglia is held in such high regard in the Metal world.
Castiglia’s paintings are monochromatic tableaux examining life, death, and the human condition. While many surrealists cite fantasy or dreams as their inspiration, Castiglia’s canvases are connected to a life story which is highly allegorical.ru
The archetypal figures in Castiglia’s work embody the finitude of human existence. The viewer is presented with the symbiosis of birth and death. The images themselves, as he sees them, form as crystallizations of his experiences, freed from the psyche; the viewer is not only allowed to see into the figure, but also through it, into a deeper psychological world.
The entire collection of paintings by Vincent Castiglia is created exclusively in human blood (which anhydrates as “iron oxide”). Blood is technically considered to be a tissue. It is made up of approximately 55% plasma, a yellowish clear fluid, which is 90% water by volume. Castiglia’s figures, their musculature and skin, are painted with what could be thought of as “liquid flesh”.
Castiglia’s paintings are monochromatic tableaux examining life, death, and the human condition. While many surrealists cite fantasy or dreams as their inspiration, Castiglia’s canvases are connected to a life story which is highly allegorical.ru
The archetypal figures in Castiglia’s work embody the finitude of human existence. The viewer is presented with the symbiosis of birth and death. The images themselves, as he sees them, form as crystallizations of his experiences, freed from the psyche; the viewer is not only allowed to see into the figure, but also through it, into a deeper psychological world.
The entire collection of paintings by Vincent Castiglia is created exclusively in human blood (which anhydrates as “iron oxide”). Blood is technically considered to be a tissue. It is made up of approximately 55% plasma, a yellowish clear fluid, which is 90% water by volume. Castiglia’s figures, their musculature and skin, are painted with what could be thought of as “liquid flesh”.
Its tendency to quicken the subjects is likely inapproachable by any other medium—as it is actual tissue with which it is being rendered. In this way the subject’s realism is not merely an optical illusion due to it’s level of detail, but rather is an actual transference of flesh and blood to each work.
Vincent Castiglia is the 1st American artist to receive a solo exhibition invitation from Oscar Award-winning artist H.R. Giger to exhibit in the H. R. Giger Museum Gallery. His work hangs in many distinguished international collections; one of his most celebrated works of 2006, “Gravity” was acquired by Rock legend Gregg Allman.
His work has also captured the attention of musicians as well. Notable is the album art he created for Triptykon’s debut release, “Eparistera Daimones”. More recently he painted an ESP Guitar for Slayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt in Gary’s own blood.
Vincent Castiglia is the 1st American artist to receive a solo exhibition invitation from Oscar Award-winning artist H.R. Giger to exhibit in the H. R. Giger Museum Gallery. His work hangs in many distinguished international collections; one of his most celebrated works of 2006, “Gravity” was acquired by Rock legend Gregg Allman.
His work has also captured the attention of musicians as well. Notable is the album art he created for Triptykon’s debut release, “Eparistera Daimones”. More recently he painted an ESP Guitar for Slayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt in Gary’s own blood.
As Gods
So Vincent, are you a metal fan? What are some of your favorite bands?
I am in fact, always have been, although my musical interests are all over the place, bizarrely so. Everything from Romanian chant to Jazz fusion.
Can you tell us how the work for Triptykon came to pass?
It was in 2008, during the time of my exhibition at the HR Giger Museum Gallery in Switzerland. My good friend Tom Gabriel Fischer, who was just an acquaintance at the time, asked me if I might be interested in painting album art for Triptykon’s first release, “Eparistera Daimones”. Given my respect for Tom personally as well as Celtic Frost, I was honored by his proposal, and accepted. I was sleeping in the apartment at the Giger Museum during this time, which was one of the most magical, memorable experiences of my life. And Tom’s proposal during this time was just the circumstantial “cherry on top” of the whole experience. Not only did Celtic Frost pioneer a unique sound which inspired a generation, but Triptykon was the seasoned result of decades of making music. So, it was a great fit, and I put a great deal of work into conceptualizing and executing the piece.
I am in fact, always have been, although my musical interests are all over the place, bizarrely so. Everything from Romanian chant to Jazz fusion.
Can you tell us how the work for Triptykon came to pass?
It was in 2008, during the time of my exhibition at the HR Giger Museum Gallery in Switzerland. My good friend Tom Gabriel Fischer, who was just an acquaintance at the time, asked me if I might be interested in painting album art for Triptykon’s first release, “Eparistera Daimones”. Given my respect for Tom personally as well as Celtic Frost, I was honored by his proposal, and accepted. I was sleeping in the apartment at the Giger Museum during this time, which was one of the most magical, memorable experiences of my life. And Tom’s proposal during this time was just the circumstantial “cherry on top” of the whole experience. Not only did Celtic Frost pioneer a unique sound which inspired a generation, but Triptykon was the seasoned result of decades of making music. So, it was a great fit, and I put a great deal of work into conceptualizing and executing the piece.
I’d actually interviewed each band member, in terms of who they were constitutionally, what they valued most, and correlated each member to a particular entity from the Goetia and it’s Seal (the lyrics dealing with specific esoteric notions, and one song on the album named “Goetia”.
So the finished art became, along this train of thought, a talisman, in which 4 other sigils or seals make up the whole.
The work you did for Gary Holt was truly unique. Can you tell us the story of how that idea started and about the process involved to complete the painting on his guitar?
I was tattooing client and friend Brian Werner of Vital Remains, and he had the idea of this guitar actually. He asked me if I thought it were logistically possible, which after little thought figured it absolutely should be.
So the finished art became, along this train of thought, a talisman, in which 4 other sigils or seals make up the whole.
The work you did for Gary Holt was truly unique. Can you tell us the story of how that idea started and about the process involved to complete the painting on his guitar?
I was tattooing client and friend Brian Werner of Vital Remains, and he had the idea of this guitar actually. He asked me if I thought it were logistically possible, which after little thought figured it absolutely should be.
The Stare
So he talked to Gary about the idea and whether he’d be into commissioning such a piece, and the rest was history. Slayer was one of my favorite bands going up, and of course Exodus, so working with Gary’s blood to produce this one of a kind, functional piece of art, which is a totally operational instrument, this was just like one of the craziest things imaginable, and IT WORKED! It’s been an honor seeing that guitar travel with Gary and Slayer to every country, the world over, three times now.
What was his reaction upon seeing the finished piece?
He was blown away, if I might say so! He really loves it, and play is constantly, and it’s just a singularly unique experience to witness this.
So what’s next for you?
I’ve been working on private commissions, back to back. More collectors have been requesting paintings in their blood, which I’m totally open to, as long it aligns conceptually with my aesthetic.
What was his reaction upon seeing the finished piece?
He was blown away, if I might say so! He really loves it, and play is constantly, and it’s just a singularly unique experience to witness this.
So what’s next for you?
I’ve been working on private commissions, back to back. More collectors have been requesting paintings in their blood, which I’m totally open to, as long it aligns conceptually with my aesthetic.
Multiply Thy Sorrow
Working with other’s blood is a different energy entirely. The last piece in the collector’s blood I worked on was for Gregg Allman, which was the brain-child of his daughter, my friend Brooklyn Allman. The piece was created in his and his children’s blood. Trying to describe the intensity of this experience, the tremendous honor it was, and respect and love I have for him and his family for entrusting this with me, words fall short. He’d actually sent the blood and planned the commission while he was still living, but it wasn’t completed until after he’d passed. So I was working his blood posthumously, again, an experience words completely fall short in describing.
Currently, I’m continuing to work on this current body of work, “Autopsy of The Soul”, which its taking me years to paint, and I’m fine with it, since I’m not putting any time restraints on it. When it’s done, I’ll show it.
For more information on this fantastic talent, visit: http://vincentcastiglia.com/
Currently, I’m continuing to work on this current body of work, “Autopsy of The Soul”, which its taking me years to paint, and I’m fine with it, since I’m not putting any time restraints on it. When it’s done, I’ll show it.
For more information on this fantastic talent, visit: http://vincentcastiglia.com/