Art

The revival of Spanish figurative art in the 80’s was the key to Barbera’s development as an artist. His expressive style forces the viewer to observe the meaning of his work. It is a mix of storytelling and painterly abstraction. He is inspired by life in general, but especially by interaction between people. This can be in relation to religion, non-western cultures, love, addiction, or worship. 

He is very versatile as an artist and he consistently experiments with new techniques and materials. His strong brush strokes, well thought- out colouring and explicit figuration can be found on a canvas or on recycled materials such as a paint cans. He has had many exhibitions in museums in Spain.

Growing up during the 1950’s Vallribera was inspired by the artistic atmosphere of the time. Abstract expressionism, a form of painting that explored notions of spirituality and the sublime. Later in the 80’s he was looking for transformation, innovation and breaking loose from the strict formal art that dominated and he took the chance to express his dynamic style. For a great deal Vallribera’s work is about the essence of life. As an alchemist he likes to reinterpret things and look at the symbolic and iconographic elements. He deals with divers abstract themes without them having to connect in a certain sense. He works with different techniques and media experimenting and joining different artistic practices. 

It is all about taking action- big or small gestures- and that for him is one of the purposes of life.

Creating objects that confirm and record existence is what Duran loves to do. They are petrified stories, solidified moments and stagings of solitude. These bronze still-life compositions are an eclectic array of different objects creating an archaeological trace that invites us to come up close, touch its surface and explore the sculptural element. In stacking these items, either from the artist’s archive or manipulated, the artist infuses them with new life and meaning, creating narratives without an argument, a theatre play without words. The piece seems to be trying to tell us an inner story that represents the past. The work is meant to be a reflection helping us to position ourselves in relation to the contemporary world. 

As the artist explains: “The pieces in this series are like silent scenes, like assembly of personal maps that push the concepts of construction and representation”.

The dynamic way the fierce brushstrokes lead the viewer through the work are typical for Duarte. Also the use of a brown paper surface and just a few colour tones show the talent to express a lot in quick, expressive gestures. His work depicts different scenes, from sensual minimal black lined silhouettes, mythological mysterious imagery in a few colour tones or colourful poetic works based on the poems of Pablo Neruda. For Duarte the female body a constant object for observation.

Depicted in an abstract manner or sometimes in a vague suggestive way. He opens a universe with references to modern masters as Picasso, Matisse and Aboriginal art.

Abstraction, layered structures, and unity of form and colour are essential factors in Lim A Po's work. In her ‘Elements’, she uses an organic visual language, in which associations with flourishing and decay, the transience of beauty, and her appreciation for nature arise naturally. In predetermined frameworks a spatial layering originates, in which the relationship between colour and form is decisive and of great significance. The ‘Elements’ have a great abstraction through their sharp lines and fragmentary imagery. The playful act between surface, texture and light gives an additional edginess to the works.

In her ‘Cut-outs’ she creates collages by layering various painted pieces of canvas. The processes of demolition and construction consecutively follow in one another, until eventually a symbiotic fusion of organic shapes manifests itself. In her latest works she reduces the colour more and more and it evolved to the new series ‘Monochromes’. In these works contrast, the interplay between light and dark is the essence. In these gradations, is where the magic happens.