The work entitled “The Shining” is a creation by Maseda using acrylic and spray paint on 73x92cm canvas to depict Jack Nicholson in his iconic role as Jack Torrance, the main character in Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining based on the novel by Stephen King. This piece is an example of Maseda’s talent for capturing the intensity and complexity of the characters he chooses to portray.
The use of acrylic allows Maseda to create a portrait with a richness of detail and nuances of shadow that capture the expressiveness and texture of the skin, as well as the piercing and disturbing gaze that Nicholson made famous in his performance. The choice of grays, blacks and whites highlights the dramatic nature of the character and reflects the psychological tension of the film.
The incorporation of spray paint adds a dynamic and contemporary element to the work, with strokes and drips suggesting the breakdown of the character’s sanity. The presence of the film’s title, “The Shining,” spray-applied in a vibrant red, not only names the work, but also symbolizes violence and blood, central themes of the film.
This work, therefore, is not only a tribute to a cinematic figure, but also a reflection on madness, isolation and terror. Maseda’s ability to combine photographic technique with the free expression of spray paint creates a work that is both a realistic portrait and an emotional and psychological interpretation of the character and the film.
