Karikatura Presents “Emotional Landscapes” & “My Inner Monster” at The Dark Art Emporium

Welcome to a land where ethereal creatures capture and exist within a full spectrum of emotions, from joviality to despair. This is the theme of the solo exhibition “Emotional Landscapes” by Karina who goes by Karikatura in the art realm. The Dark Art Emporium hosted the opening reception, and accompanying her works is a group show she personally curated titled “My Inner Monster,” featuring a variety of other amazing artists. Get ready for a closer look.

Karina is a Latina artist from Guadalajara, Mexico, so it was all the more meaningful to me to support her work. Pastel shades and magical pastoral elements dominated her pieces with figures conveying sentiments in unique ways. “Frozen Memories” seemed to depict the deep-seated yearnings that nostalgia can stir up; “The Nightmare” put a playful and sensual twist on the original piece by Henry Fuseli. A female figure lies atop a piece of candy, surrounded by sweet treats and little monsters, and is being fondled by a demon. It certainly blurs the line between fright and pleasure.

Karikatura’s self-portrait, “Raining Inside” is exquisite and the longer you look at it, the more elements you notice. At a quick glance, you just see a smiling woman, but if you do another take, you may find her smile appears tense. Is she uncomfortable? As you move up from her mouth to her eyes, you’ll see tears pooling at the rims ever so subtly. The tears that are building make her gaze glisten. Then, there’s the bloody scar above her heart with flowers bursting forth, no doubt watered by her internal weeping. From sorrow, beautiful things can sprout and flourish. Speaking of flowers, the artist also crafted colorful floral ceramic sculptures that framed her centerpiece, “The Green Queen.”

Alongside “Emotional Landscapes” was the group art show “My Inner Monster,” which Karikatura assembled. She handpicked artists who embody a dark aesthetic but possess unique styles, and her vision was to highlight the emotions of the shadow self, such as fear and anger. The exhibition featured astounding works by La Tereza, Stefanie Vega, Stephanie Inagaki, Patrick Thai, Dos Diablos, Chet Zar, Secreto Rebollo, Hugo Villa, Pool & Marianela, Los Calladitos, Fredelle and Brian Smith.

The mixed media doll figurines were really neat to see up close. Vega’s creation, “The Tooth Fairy,” had bits of jawbone and teeth details. I loved “Barbie Virgen de los Dolores” by Pool & Marianela. It’s a Barbie doll I wish I had as a kid. The figure was ornately decorated and donned gilded garb and a magnificent crown. The kohl-stained tears running down her smiling face were a nice touch. Stephanie Inagaki, whose work I’ve been following for a while, was also part of the show. Her piece “Love Will Tear Us Apart” was a stunning depiction of a corvid bird with gold rods penetrating through it.

Every artwork in the group exhibit added so much dimension and introduced characters with a deeper story to tell. That’s partly what I enjoy about the dark art I see. I can look at a painting and imagine a narrative to go along with it. The works are, in many ways, open to the interpretation of the onlooker.

Karikatura’s “Emotional Landscapes” and the group show “My Inner Monster” are currently on display at The Dark Art Emporium. I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.

Where to Stalk

Karikatura’s Store

Karikaturaart Instagram

The Dark Art Emporium