Illustrator José Ja Ja Ja swaps the pencils for paints in new exhibition

José Ja Ja Ja is an illustrator with one of the most apt pseudonym names. The Spanish term ‘ja ja ja’ is often used as ironic laughter, acting as a brilliant title for José’s work which is consistently amusing and playful, through illustrative lines and in this case a primary colour palette.

An illustrator who we have championed for his intricate sketches previously, José has ventured on a new pathway and medium over the past six months, culminating in a Rotterdam-based exhibition at Het Wilde Weten. The title for this series of work is Grundfunken translating as drive, concentrating upon “the idea of drawing cars or things related with it”.

These artworks are a new venture for José: “This is the first time I have used colour lines, which is an experiment too. At the same time, I’ve developed the same drawings in very big acrylic paintings.” The result is a collection of minimal illustrations that still present a wealth of personality, white canvasses transformed by deliciously thick painted drawings. It is a treat to see José’s initial sketches elevated into almost three dimensional paintings. Presented alongside one another the exhibition displays an insight into the artist’s process.