According to Marta Traba (1923–83), an Argentinean art critic and cultural advocate based in Colombia, the work of José Campos Biscardi (b. 1944) bears the influence of major strains of contemporary art and artists in the structure of its pictorial exercise. The Colombian artist draws on formal elements from those sources, which he then brings together to forge his own language. While North American Pop art from the late fifties is the most evident influence, Surrealism and Dada also have left their mark on his work. With those resources, Campos Biscardi explores an expressive territory where color and design take center stage.
In this text, Traba warns the talented young artist of errors that he might commit in the future. On the basis of a somewhat regionalist vision, Traba asserts that some Latin American artists do not monitor the extent to which they are influenced by European and North American avant-gardes. They resort to mimicry as they pursue their artistic exploration. Nonetheless, Traba recognizes the intensive work that Campos Biscardi has done at the heart of the Venezuelan art scene.
In this catalogue, Venezuelan poet and critic Juan Calzadilla (b. 1931) also reflects on the painter’s work.