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Lot Essay
"Film is what has had the most influence in my work," stated Mexican artist Julio Galán (1959-2006).1 His uncle Enrique and grandfather Adolfo (Ofo) owned movie theatres in the small town of Múzquiz in the border state of Coahuila, where Galán spent his early childhood. The artist mentioned having seen the wrestler El Santo, zombies, actress Lorena Velázquez as a vampire, and leading man Mauricio Garcés appear on the big screen.2 Moreover, during evenings at Ofo's house, Galán often watched private showings of films on a reel-to-reel projector. There at age seven he saw Un homme et une femme (1966), which had "many erotic scenes," as well as other films with "pornography and violence."3 He comments, "As a boy, to see adult films with violence and nudity without a doubt affected me."4
As an adult, Film Noir fascinated him, specifically The Crying Game (1992) Blue Velvet (1986), and The Silence of the Lambs(1991).5 Moreover, a life-size movie standee of Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter guarded the entrance to Galán's studio for many years.6 I'm Gonna Wash You With Soap of 1995, if not depicting a specific film still, certainly evokes this dark genre. The title a playful pun, dismisses oppressive mores, turning the authoritative threat ("I am going to wash your mouth out with soap!") into sexual innuendo.7 Through the self-portraiture typical of his oeuvre, the artist plays at perverse and erotic intrigue. "I search out all that is risky. All that which is perversity, badness-it attracts me; I like it," he revealed.8 Clad only in a G-string, transparent blue skirt, and the suggestion of rhinestone-strapped high-heels, this stripper emerges from Galán's on-going personal inquiry into sexual identity; his assault on heteronormative definitions is constant.
Similarly in The Boxer (refer to Lot 72), Galán confounds the viewer who expects hyper-masculinity to emanate from this torpid, but sympathetic man-child boxer whose massive, isolated figure Galán juxtaposes with quaint vignettes illustrating children's sports. Galán masterfully controls his surface treatment creating a push and pull of pattern, line and form.
By 1995, when Galán painted I'm Gonna Wash You With Soap (the present lot) and The Boxer, he was an established, well-traveled artist with an international standing, who had secured the prestigious MARCO prize. On several occasions, in restaurants or at his exhibition openings, Galán enjoyed meeting, and having himself photographed at the side of art, music, and film celebrities who he admired such as Andy Warhol, Isabella Rossellini, Johnny Depp, Sylvester Stallone, and Boy George, among others. As much as he would have liked to, Galán apparently never had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Hopper, famed for his starring role as Rossellini's deranged lover in Blue Velvet, and who also happened to become I'm Gonna Wash You With Soap's owner.
Teresa Eckmann, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Latin American Art History, University of Texas, San Antonio
1.Teresa del Conde, Tres generaciones: Rodolfo Morales, Francisco Toledo, Julio Galán (Mexico City: Confederacin de Educadores Americanos, 1997), 98.
2. Silvia Cherem S., "Los secretos del dolor: Entrevista con Julio Galn" in Julio Galán: Pensando en ti (Monterrey: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, 1997), 304.
3. Ibid.
4 Del Conde, Tres generaciones, 98.
5 Sofia and Lissi Galán in conversation with author, August 24, 2013.
6. Guillermo Sepúlveda in email to author on September 16, 2013 and Cherem "Los secretos del dolor," on page 309 also mentions encountering this object in the entrance to Galán's apartment in San Pedro Garza García in Monterrey.
7. I am grateful to Virgilio Garza for this reading.
8. José Garza, "Soy adicto a mí" August 25, 2013. https://www.elbarrioantiguo.com/soy-adicto-a-mi-julio-galan (accessed September 23, 2013).
As an adult, Film Noir fascinated him, specifically The Crying Game (1992) Blue Velvet (1986), and The Silence of the Lambs(1991).5 Moreover, a life-size movie standee of Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter guarded the entrance to Galán's studio for many years.6 I'm Gonna Wash You With Soap of 1995, if not depicting a specific film still, certainly evokes this dark genre. The title a playful pun, dismisses oppressive mores, turning the authoritative threat ("I am going to wash your mouth out with soap!") into sexual innuendo.7 Through the self-portraiture typical of his oeuvre, the artist plays at perverse and erotic intrigue. "I search out all that is risky. All that which is perversity, badness-it attracts me; I like it," he revealed.8 Clad only in a G-string, transparent blue skirt, and the suggestion of rhinestone-strapped high-heels, this stripper emerges from Galán's on-going personal inquiry into sexual identity; his assault on heteronormative definitions is constant.
Similarly in The Boxer (refer to Lot 72), Galán confounds the viewer who expects hyper-masculinity to emanate from this torpid, but sympathetic man-child boxer whose massive, isolated figure Galán juxtaposes with quaint vignettes illustrating children's sports. Galán masterfully controls his surface treatment creating a push and pull of pattern, line and form.
By 1995, when Galán painted I'm Gonna Wash You With Soap (the present lot) and The Boxer, he was an established, well-traveled artist with an international standing, who had secured the prestigious MARCO prize. On several occasions, in restaurants or at his exhibition openings, Galán enjoyed meeting, and having himself photographed at the side of art, music, and film celebrities who he admired such as Andy Warhol, Isabella Rossellini, Johnny Depp, Sylvester Stallone, and Boy George, among others. As much as he would have liked to, Galán apparently never had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Hopper, famed for his starring role as Rossellini's deranged lover in Blue Velvet, and who also happened to become I'm Gonna Wash You With Soap's owner.
Teresa Eckmann, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Latin American Art History, University of Texas, San Antonio
1.Teresa del Conde, Tres generaciones: Rodolfo Morales, Francisco Toledo, Julio Galán (Mexico City: Confederacin de Educadores Americanos, 1997), 98.
2. Silvia Cherem S., "Los secretos del dolor: Entrevista con Julio Galn" in Julio Galán: Pensando en ti (Monterrey: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, 1997), 304.
3. Ibid.
4 Del Conde, Tres generaciones, 98.
5 Sofia and Lissi Galán in conversation with author, August 24, 2013.
6. Guillermo Sepúlveda in email to author on September 16, 2013 and Cherem "Los secretos del dolor," on page 309 also mentions encountering this object in the entrance to Galán's apartment in San Pedro Garza García in Monterrey.
7. I am grateful to Virgilio Garza for this reading.
8. José Garza, "Soy adicto a mí" August 25, 2013. https://www.elbarrioantiguo.com/soy-adicto-a-mi-julio-galan (accessed September 23, 2013).