"When the Heavens Open…"

Painter Victor Castillo has been identified as a pop-surrealist for his distinguishable stylistic references to vintage comics, animation, and popular media. After experiencing disillusionment with his native Chile and studies in art school, Castillo developed his current style out of “frustration and anger,” and a dark sense of humor. His works spin ominous allegorical and political narratives of current world crises in post-apocalyptic settings; greed, chaos, brutality and destruction are frequent themes in his work. The protagonists of his paintings are frequently children with blank eyes—the artist’s metaphor for ignorance. Castillo admits that people might find his works “a little tenebrous or even satanic,” but explains that he is not a dark person, and is instead interested in creating accessible art. His work is also influenced by Spanish Old Master painters, particularly Francisco de Goya.