I have been a member of this forum since 2015. However, I never really understood its structure. Last year I had the pleasure to meet @treweman in Mexico, and he told me I should join and explained some of the basics to me, so I guess it is time to start exploring this space, to get to know this community and to share some of my work with you. I apologize in advance if this topic is in the wrong section (please feel free to move it).
I am Guatemalan, but I'm currently based in Buenos Aires (March/July and Sept./Dec.) and Mexico City (Dec./March and July/Sept.). Feel free to contact me if you are around.
I started making stencils around five years ago. Here are some images of my work (you can find more on http://www.eltinku.com and on my Instagram account: el_tinku). I will post some images of the processes in the comments.
All my works are handcut (the latest taking up to 4 months - 1000 hours to cut) and based on photographs taken by my father. We work collaboratively; therefore I often sign my works as Tinku · 360º.
Tributo (Winner - Stencil Art Prize 2016)
Handcut stencils, aerosol and acrylic paint on canvas.
105 x 85 cm (41.3" x 33.5")
Tinku, 2016
In Guatemala:
*I tried to put emphasis on the parallelisms between the Virgin that was already pasted on the door and the woman I portrayed.
Retorno (Highly Commended - Stencil Art Prize 2015)
Aerosol and acrylic paint on canvas.
148 x 98 cm
Tinku, 2015
"Retorno" is the portrait of a Mam woman met by my father in Guatemala, after her return from a long asylum in Mexico. Her face tells a story that goes beyond this grandmother's individual participation and survival during the Guatemalan Civil War; it tells the story of a people and its heroic resistance against oppression, exploitation, marginalization and discrimination. Because they were, we are.
Outdoors (Buenos Aires, Argentina):
*The filter used by the user who uploaded the picture flattens the image a bit and distorts the colours.
La Espera (Highly Commended - Stencil Art Prize 2014)
Handcut stencils, aerosol and acrylic paint on canvas.
150 x 150 cm
Tinku, 2014
Video shot by La Marmota Azul in Mexico City
"La Espera", which in Spanish means “The wait”, is the portrait of an old rom man met by my father in the post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina. He had survived the Second World War, passing through a Nazi concentration camp, and the Siege of Sarajevo, during the Yugoslav war. When my father met him, he was waiting for his first WWII reparation payment, made by the German government more than 50 years after the conflict ended.
I painted this mural in a XIX century building, that was about to be demolished to build a shopping mall. The last tenants, who were born there and had lived in the building for more than 70 years, were being thrown out by the new owners.
Rom boy from Bosnia-Herzegovina (Untitled)
Acrylic paint and aerosol on found object.
63 x 44.5 x 1.5 cm
Tinku, 2014
I got caught by the Buenos Aires police while painting this outdoors, so this is the only version of this piece.
Dalit
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rom boy from Bosnia-Herzegovina (Untitled)
Tinku, 2013
Girl from Soweto (Untitled) (homage to Madiba)
Two-layer stencil.
Tinku, 2013
Guatemala:
You can find some older works and collaborations on my page: http://www.eltinku.com
