“Your brain is looking at something real, but your eyes are looking at something not real. I think there is some kind of magic in such a moment”
—Javier CallejaIn Javier Calleja’s 2021 sculpture Heads, this magic moment is made manifest. Composed of five heads, asymmetrically stacked in decreasing size order, the present work is constructed in aluminum and crystal glass with a matte paint finish. Each head is given a distinct set of features – most striking of which are the vibrantly colored and cartoonishly large glass eyes, emblematic of Calleja’s trademark style. The signature eyes and unique composition lend the work a sense of whimsy which conjures up notions of childhood cartoons and youthful memories.
For Calleja, his signature watery eyes represent that “heroic moment” when a child decides to no longer be burdened by what upset them. In this way Calleja’s work not only captures the tenderness of childhood naïveté but also highlights the strength of the human psyche. Ultimately, however, the artist prefers not to explain his work, instead letting the work be “completed by the observer.”
The composition, through its asymmetry, leaves the viewer on a precipice—the imbalance creates an uneasiness that engages and confuses our eye. In this way, Calleja’s work is rooted in the Surrealist tradition, attempting to blur the reality of everyday life by distorting simple and familiar forms, melding the saccharinely sweet with a cynical humor.