BOATS: A theme that has carried throughout his life.
Artifacts such as old, weathered oars, sea-worn wood and rope, fashioned into reflections of his life's journey...
In July, 1992, one month and a day after his seventeenth birthday, Alfonso gathered a few provisions and braced himself for the treacherous voyage ahead. He and two cousins set off in their makeshift vessel constructed of a car frame, welded scrap metal and repurposed light poles.
To make their craft waterproof, they covered it with the only material they could find-- bright red paint, a relic of the Soviet presence on the island. For nearly five days, the Cuban refugees sailed their unlikely and rather conspicuous craft across the Florida Straits -- 90 miles towards Miami, where ultimately they landed safely.
Rey's deep connection with this theme strongly influences his work to this day. Read more about here:
ARTISTRey's mixed media works are brightly hued reflections of his life's journey.
Rey’s signature series is inspired by his life’s journey. The wooden oar, found at sea, represents the experiences of migrants and immigrants who leave their homelands in search of a better future. Inspired by his childhood, these work features the elegant stepped forms, sweeping curves and layered shapes of Art Deco, old American cars and the colors of Cuban tropical splendor.
I describe my work as “abstract painting with nautical and architectural references”.
