I have visited so many art exhibitions that I have lost count of how many there have been, but I am increasingly eager to see more and more art, it is as if each exhibition is an impulse for the next one.
When I entered last month the Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Malaga, an art gallery, among other things, that makes room for culture with new artists and art every time.
On this occasion as soon as I entered and saw the poster presenting the exhibition I was reminded of the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero, my mind went straight back to him and then inside the room I met a woman who was Béjar's representative and was there for the exhibition and sale of the works, as well as for any explanations that the attendees needed. It was she herself who once mentioned the allusion to Botero. So my mind was not so wrong.
I didn't know the artist, but through this exhibition I was able to learn something about him. The first thing that struck me was that he painted only children, both girls and boys, in different circumstances, like in everyday matters, with animals, playing, with different objects. The children always looked to the front with a very particular dress and in themselves the anatomy of all of them looked alike.
This exhibition was on until 31 October this year and at the time I visited it many people came with the same motive, it was very crowded, even in one of the rooms I met a married couple who were looking for the artist to buy one of his works. There was a lot of interest and the representative was there. It's the first time I've seen this.
‘The road’ Oil on wood.
‘Afternoon function’ Oil on canvas.
‘Rest’ Oil on canvas.
‘A Question of Strength’ Oil on canvas.
‘Equilibrium’ Oil on canvas.
‘Intellectual Dog’ Oil on canvas.
‘Fishing’ Oil on canvas.
What I was able to learn about the artist right there in the exhibition is that Béjar was orphaned as a child and I think that is why his paintings may refer to himself or to the children who are in the same situation as him.
He paints for himself, because painting is his life, he doesn't feel well if he doesn't paint, he does it as a vital principle for him, a necessity, if he doesn't do it he is lost.
‘The ball is in the air’ Oil on canvas.
‘Black belt’ Oil on canvas.
‘The night’ Oil on canvas.
‘Game of stars’ Oil on canvas.
‘Two pears’ Oil on canvas.
‘Ping Pong’ Oil on canvas.
‘Night games’ Oil on wood.
But according to the information that I could read about him in the exhibition, he does not paint to create a connection with reality, but rather to be closer to fantasy, a world of fantasy, but united with sadness.
The lack of affection is noticeable in his paintings, but also the immense and lucid humanity. I think he is unique in his paintings, with a very particular style and that makes an impact. Whether or not I like the motifs of his paintings, I must say that the painting is impeccable and exquisite.
‘Pastime’ Oil on wood.
‘Parrot companion’ Oil on giclée on canvas.
‘Indifference’ and ‘Intermission’ Oil on wood.
‘First Stems’ Oil on canvas.
‘Interior’ Oil on wood.
The serious faces of the children, as always posing for a photo, those old photos, the sad and lost look, but surrounded by things here and there. He also painted the children with animals and that is a positive point in childhood. The clothes also allude to something old, but very old, and the poses of the children as if they were static and without movement, their gazes fixed on one point. As if they were posing for a photographer who tells them how to position themselves, that was the feeling I got at first sight.
‘Black shoes’ Oil on canvas.
‘Firmament’ Oil on giclée on canvas.
‘The Concert’ Oil on wood.
‘The Kite’ Oil on canvas.
‘Equestrian Ride’ Oil on giclée on canvas.
‘Remoteness’ Oil on giclée on canvas.
‘Landscape’ Oil on giclée on canvas.
It was a very unusual exhibition because of the subject matter, but one thing is remarkable, all these paintings form a collection and I am sure that the price is not cheap at all. Whoever likes this kind of art and gets hold of several of them will surely want the collection one day and it will fetch a lot, of that I am sure.
Thank you for joining me in this peculiar art exhibition, I wish you a very good Sunday. See you soon.
Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
