Jorge Cocco Sanángelo has returned to BYU-Idaho with a new art exhibit called “Sacred Events from The Book of Mormon.” Last year, his last exhibit was also in the style of “Sacrocubism,” which is his style of cubism presenting sacred themes in his paintings.
He said he loves Sacrocubism because he can use more geometry and not have to focus so deeply on unnecessary details.
There are many aspects that have motivated him to do an exhibit about The Book of Mormon and one of them is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s focus this year on the Book of Mormon in its “Come, Follow Me” curriculum. This sacred set of scriptures has made a difference in his life, especially in his process of joining The Church of Jesus Christ. He said it helped him answer a lot of questions he had.
“For me, it shed new light and a testimony of what God had done in this continent,” he said.
His paintings are full of symbolisms to give more life to the paintings. Cocco shared how symbolism can be in color because it will have an emotional impact on those who see the paintings.
“The rhythm that I give to the paintings can make you feel violent or calm, or spiritual feelings,” he said.
He said symbols are given to us genetically and it has to do with our relationship with God and that is one of the reasons symbols have been a part of history and our current lives. He has some symbols in his paintings in the exhibit.
“We should not make an effort to try to find hidden things because they get to us subconsciously,” he said.
He said it’s about what stands out to us when we look at a piece of art or listen to a beautiful piece of music.
“The triangle, for example expresses an earthly base and an elevation to the godly. The circle reminds us of the eternity because it has no beginning or end,” he said.
Tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Spori Building Art Gallery will be the artist reception. Tomorrow from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. he will do an artist signing at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore. His free exhibit is open March 5 until April 9.