Exquisite, varied and surprising works in a single collection.
There are so many types of art, so many ways of expressing oneself, and within the realm of painting alone, there are still countless techniques, some of which may even yet be invented. That is what the artist’s creativity is all about: reinventing oneself and, in turn, the art one creates.
The most impressive thing is to attend an art exhibition where all the works are distinct in every sense and where there is something to suit every taste. I have very rarely had the opportunity to visit an exhibition that showcases a collection, that is to say, a range of different works of art belonging to a single collector, acquired according to their diverse preferences and tastes.
This was the case with the collector Suñol Soler, whose collection forms a sort of imaginary map of works of art, mainly of Spanish origin and dating from between 1960 and 1980, although there were also international works and pieces from other periods. For this reason, the exhibition was named ‘Archipelago’.
Of course, within the large exhibition which spanned several interconnected galleries—there were works that I absolutely loved and, as I always say, sometimes it’s not about the ‘why’, but they simply struck a chord with me or I managed to connect with them, even without knowing who the artist was. Perhaps it was the colours, the shapes, what they convey, a message or the technique used, a texture or the materials employed.
That’s why I’m sharing these works here, the ones that caught my eye when I saw them. In the case of those displaying an interesting texture or a variety of materials, I tried to take closer photographs, as far as the museum would allow.
Ladies and Gentlemen, 1975, Andy Warhol, silkscreen on paper.
Crossings II, 1977, José Luis Alexanco, mixed media on canvas.
Vertical System Object, 1968, Manuel Rivera, wire on wooden frame.
Landscapes Series, 1979, Carmen Calvo, mixed media on canvas.
It is marvellous to see the variety of artistic languages expressed in all these works. We may like some much more than others, and each for a different reason. These are works selected from the collection, which means that the collection is much larger than I have seen, and that amazes me.
Untitled, 1980, Eva Lootz, mixed media and paraffin on canvas.
Meditation, 1984, José Manue Broto, oil on canvas.
Painting, 1960, Rafael Canogar, oil on canvas.
Furthermore, the message of the exhibition lies in the viewer’s perspective, the visitor who sees the work and interprets it, so to speak. I believe there are two perspectives: that of the artist, who creates the work for a particular reason or driven by a specific emotion; but on the other hand, there is the viewer who, depending on the moment they view the work and their own inner state and life experiences, may interpret something entirely different.
Untitled, 1976, Josep Guinovart, mixed media on wood.
Taurus, 1957, Modest Cuixart, frottage on cardboard.
Composition 247, 1961, Luis Feito, oil on canvas.
Here, the artists draw on nature as a source of creativity, as well as on emotions, both of which are inexhaustible sources. Art is a visual language, one that I believe touches the soul and the heart if we connect with it. It is a language that allows us to communicate many things: feelings, messages and points of view. That is why I believe this collection is so valuable, due to its great diversity of artistic languages.
Thank you very much for joining me today; I wish you all a very happy Sunday. See you soon.
Amonet.
All photographs are my own.