Alberto Sanchez

ARTIST STATEMENT

I grew up in a small town in Castilla (Spain), an area surrounded by medieval castles, Roman aqueducts and Gothic cathedrals, culture and traditions that are still very much anchored in old Roman hierarchical structures. Moving to Australia 10 years ago, I have been able to reflect with the safety of distance, on how our identity, defined by place and time yields to the ever present spectre of change.
Our cities are torn between the ever-expanding commercial needs of a capitalistic culture and the human struggle to reclaim space. I explore the interaction between citizens and their landscapes and the modern rituals of everyday life in commercial centres. The hyper-expansionism in the cities I photograph represents the best and worst of contemporary urban consumption and the impacting result on human life.
My intention is simple: to alter our perception of the modern urban landscape. In the same way that a graffiti artist tags a train or a company posts a billboard advertising the latest iGadget, I manipulate and intervene with these photographs. I have painted, scratched and altered by means of physical action and free hand graffiti, creating a unique piece with each work. In a simple and spontaneous manner, I pervert those photographs not just as a means of rebellion but also to re-arrange the message. My characters are set free to teem and detach themselves from the restraints of the factual, to indulge in a limbo, a deluded parallel reality.