Justin Ruiz

Justin Ruiz

Influenced by Japanese art that of 漫画家 (Manga artists) and that of cultural pop art . Ruiz creates artworks with the mediums of photobashing, animation, digital illustrations all with these themes in mind. The intent to bring two unlikely concepts under the same metaphorical roof has been an idea Ruiz hopes to achieve with the several mediums by either combination of individually. With the goal of showcasing that any art regardless of origin can connect with those who view it but also can connect with ideas that would contrast their own. Ruiz’s process to ensure this idea and concept is much more than just an idea and concept as observed common materials used in Manga alongside that of Pop art during its initial artistic movement found similarities in terms of production, what's appealing to the larger demographic in mind for both of these ideas.

Theorist Laura Mulvey coined the term “male gaze” in her 1973 essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," Ruiz showcases this exact concept within his series of 9 illustrations of the female physique broken down, while replicating and mimicking the loud and bright style found in pop art to emphasis and draw more attention to the broken figures and focus on the male gaze hence furthering Laura Mulvey coined term of the male gaze while bringing the irony of this concept from a male’s perspective.