About the Exhibit: A Message from Tato González

Certainly, the essence of this artistic exhibition is the Holy Kings, whose faces manifest expressions of adoration, joy, and gratitude to God for the privilege of guiding them to the place where His Son Jesus, the Messiah, was born. My devotion to the Kings brings me a sense of joy and respect whenever I offer them a work of art. Many years of dedication to them gave me the confidence and fluidity to achieve the emotions and moods of the characters. One can appreciate the charm of their garments decorated with luminous and varied embroideries. The crowns, a distinctive symbol of the majesty of the Kings, of their nobility and greatness, do not exempt them from great humility, which is manifested in their gazes and reverences before the King of kings. Coated with silver paint, their crowns represent generosity and hope. Their closed eyes, which can be appreciated in many of the works, are signs of praise, respect, and veneration.

These are artistic pieces made in mixed media, using the linear technique with graphite pencil and black and silver acrylic paint. The fusion allows for the appreciation of dynamism and movement in each of the works. The graphite pencil is responsible for the mid-tone effect and the light’s reflection. On the other hand, the silver accentuates the brightness and gives splendor to every detail, achieving a touch of modernism in each piece.

Finally, I cannot overlook that during the creation of these art pieces, I was transported to the years of work of my father, Luis R. “Tato” González León. I honor the memory of someone who was an excellent professional photographer and master in the application of light and shadow. He retouched each negative before developing the photos. I brought him to my memory as many times as I could perceive in my works, an effect very similar to that of the plastic sheets of the negative of the photos he worked on, especially when the light hit them.

There was no need for color to achieve details, lights, depth, subtlety, volume, and other effects in the set of thousands of lines traced in the pieces of art that make up this exhibition, and which were made with much respect and admiration, to the prominent characters who had the honor of seeking, finding, and offering gifts to the Redeemer of the world. The tradition of the Epiphany is kept alive in the homeland that saw me born, Puerto Rico. My commitment is to make it known in every place where I have the opportunity to exhibit my art. Enjoy the exhibition “Sueño de Reyes” (“Dream of the Three Kings.”)