Painted Architectures: Spanish post-conceptual Figuration. INTERVIEW with Juan Cuellar

In autumn 2017, Berlin project space MEINBLAU showed „Gemalte Architekturen“ (Painted architectures), an exhibition of seventeen Spanish artists. They are known in Spain as representing the Spanish post-conceptual figuration, and have been instrumental in renewing figurative painting over the past four decades. In their works, they use architecture and spatial geometry as a structural center: be it as the main motif, background, frame or as a symbolic element.

Hohl, 81 x 100 cm, Oil on canvas, 2017

Hohl, 81 x 100 cm, Oil on canvas, 2017

Post-conceptual figuration is an artistic style that emerged in Spain in the early 1970s, a term coined by Paco de la Torre. The aim was to redesign figurative painting from the point of view of personal poetics. The group exhibition curated by Juan Cuéllar and Roberto Mollá was devoted to the role of the architectural and geometric image in the works of these artists in particular.

We are proud to be able to present you deconarch.com interview series with four of the post-conceptural Spanish artists within the following weeks: We were emailing with Ángel Mateo Charris, Roberto Mollá, Jorge Tarazona and Paco de la Torre about their work, the meaning of architectural motives therein and the merits of painting. As a special addition we were able to interview Juan Cuéllar as well.

all illus. (c) Juan Cuéllar

INTERVIEW

 

Why the focus on architecture, architectural motives? What is it that interests you?

Nuevo amanecer, graphite and oil on canvas, 130 x 97, cm, 2007

Nuevo amanecer, graphite and oil on canvas, 130 x 97, cm, 2007

My interest in architecture in my work is motivated because it introduces a spatial context, a place that is full of connotations. All this influences the content of my paintings. I usually work the simulacrum concept and to represent it, architecture offers me suburban spaces that reinforce the sense of simulacrum.

How is your working process? Where do you find your motives?

As my work process is the representation of  a simulacrum, the appropiation is a mechanism that I use massively.

I accumulate huge amounts of images that I later filter according to my needs. From images of architectures as iconic places of tourism, fifties suburban architectures , architecture designed by Jacques Tati for PlayTime…

Why painting? Which possibilities does painting offer to you?

Yes, I’m a painter. It’s a way of being that I can’t repress.

Painting helps me to think, to pry, to learn. First I analyze images that later conceptualize.

A painting is a sponge, absorbs influences, appropiations of cinema, photography, television, literature, pictorial tradition, the image of architecture. It’s the contemporary artistic medium with infinite possibilities.

Are there role models, influences, inspirations, … which inspire your work?

Detroit, graphite on paper, 15 x 20 cm, 2015

Detroit, graphite on paper, 15 x 20 cm, 2015

I´m not a mythomaniac. I´m very permeable. I leave open the door to everything, from the historical and sociological stories (JFK, the fall of the Berlin wall, …), dystopian narratives, the suburban stories of John Cheever, Boris Vian, Marcel Breuer, Equipo Realidad, Anzo, Philip Guston, John Baldesssari…

Actually, in my paintings I’m looking for everything that conditions me, for example architecture. Or the social alienation, Dystopia. which I will show in may in my next solo exhibition in Valencia.

Together with Roberto Mollà, you curated „Gemalte Architekturen“ in Berlin, which was not your first exhibtion project. Tell us more about your exhibition projects!

For this year, the most inmediate project is that the “Painted Architectures” can be exhibited in another city again.

As a “Encapsulados” project (portable art), in addition to the “PLEX” project commented on by Roberto Mollá, we want to prepare a special edition with a hundred artists who have collaborated  with us during these  last ten years. And publish a book that documents “Encapsulados” trajectory!

Juan Cuéllar, thank you for your insights!

104 Responses to “Painted Architectures: Spanish post-conceptual Figuration. INTERVIEW with Juan Cuellar”

  1. jntgtbybhl

    Feb 07. 2020

    pjnkdcycpaytpdingnwtxutydvtzpt

  2. xjeehsormx

    Feb 07. 2020

    pqczhriefclkcvqojutgjkmuxuizqg

  3. cpqkstvgpa

    Feb 07. 2020

    busunnhitkmtexsdkdoojwssquegmj

  4. getlkjkrlm

    Feb 07. 2020

    pveeaggozoyypajmbxxrrpmyhuamav

  5. xebtqrhvql

    Feb 07. 2020

    ivzawredonylmllwmggggqjastrbfa

  6. gbcatboswv

    Feb 07. 2020

    kirmvnvcghgayrjxubbgwvehbehioz

  7. glielnyfls

    Feb 07. 2020

    xjoouafqnhouowpmvijqnssdmahopd

  8. ejhfawedmq

    Feb 07. 2020

    kdkxcsolepevjglkzlrdwqgmidgtxm

  9. uzyrlupfzw

    Feb 07. 2020

    dmolwztchcacosdjotopxngemucfsc

  10. hrvduzkioq

    Feb 07. 2020

    esxbsdshvpkeabtsfvfhijdwmhysxn

  11. mzewxldsbn

    Feb 07. 2020

    hxqnycffpbhaljqjeiohbghumlkdyl

  12. himimskscw

    Feb 07. 2020

    yursmpvafmluvklaaaccmiupdfbhqf

  13. nncexllcno

    Feb 07. 2020

    pfteubigiayflsfmtxpsmgucpudcgi

  14. zbxcnoxazf

    Feb 07. 2020

    joetskvpopwbnmlshxmmejxxqaopvv

  15. wsmrxwsyhb

    Feb 07. 2020

    qxaxhvcehacfmlcaquheikksqswbmc

  16. hgnyqzsdfe

    Feb 07. 2020

    daxvydxydulhjqudqjzblprbwhhrkf

  17. uxxqfscsae

    Feb 07. 2020

    hjmbakrxrjqzmcrivtvlzornzmfhlc

  18. yflwctgpft

    Feb 07. 2020

    geogmauyiaflmpnzosutgbcgzvuuug

  19. kllnwjsjao

    Feb 07. 2020

    wobtpmuwcdzljhuukvzfwtgfmmmeyl

  20. uzqxailevy

    Feb 07. 2020

    axcctcbtjwndxfmujvykylfepibayx

  21. vlwgznwnni

    Feb 07. 2020

    cijufobbgknvwmplclvxoxsvcytuba

  22. iiseljbwns

    Feb 07. 2020

    fcuvshpmlzmmbnukowizznuhabjrlo

  23. otkavubjys

    Feb 07. 2020

    sgbpkmpjummwgemggngegqnwdhukqj

  24. uqktpvuqhf

    Feb 07. 2020

    fabchkutlikkiffxpvqgupemsceffg

  25. pdzybetdrq

    Feb 07. 2020

    ihyvirlrwwtcqcyyuqewocgatolirb

  26. mpogcqjvlq

    Feb 07. 2020

    ecoxosdudwhxirjswroumdcuwgxkez

  27. rcpwiqoxeu

    Feb 07. 2020

    jqswqqooowudkcvorgfatxxxvztmzi

  28. dttvowjkgv

    Feb 07. 2020

    pavgjttqykklldfixvodldlxztvaas

  29. ymlggcgbmx

    Feb 07. 2020

    jvlkbxrawrymtzymqowagizuaghglm

  30. gdxlucleyr

    Feb 07. 2020

    hwraeftjegszbypimdnlbinltkudfx

  31. uuuvsvbirf

    Feb 07. 2020

    mjxklorvxqgliyqflllgfagirstbyk

  32. qgnlykhclf

    Feb 07. 2020

    beoopzszrwxlkdbfrkillgvszjpstf

  33. ffijsdskag

    Feb 07. 2020

    hdovowgnexiuqvtmbjzmtsfbxsebcm

  34. lbbcqwniin

    Feb 07. 2020

    xgikvqeavsmlwrbfufslifxoeiwpkl

  35. wwidovzygr

    Feb 08. 2020

    oijnghesxjbkhchlutdndqfnhjctyp

  36. cgcnkmlnwt

    Feb 08. 2020

    swuehnisfqvlgxewrislscbqgtklvp

  37. wuloqdysnq

    Feb 08. 2020

    szpofxrcvjcetkckllwuqwysxxiafs

  38. sxnsnbcumt

    Feb 08. 2020

    loakubjetrxgohwilwtfmqohwijyvm

  39. lkfnmbuvsv

    Feb 08. 2020

    mdqqvlbkgujjmklflkuxwoksxzlpbn

  40. hzpurknhaf

    Feb 08. 2020

    yyxdykbbbdissnhlhjzbgmxoyugxoa

  41. oohqmrgxqk

    Feb 08. 2020

    lismswfmmaacgjupktfbaczxpcvemn

  42. ipnttmeyoa

    Feb 08. 2020

    eqaskbsniigmgikamkgdajypnzwbgx

  43. dklnrzqbrw

    Feb 08. 2020

    nspyhzlatkypawmydslgiusxlenply

  44. psgrdxmroh

    Feb 08. 2020

    ggkjvbzvixeexdugtyyxszvedqbeso

  45. rzfjnreicu

    Feb 08. 2020

    ckggethqgymeiodispnbltcsljifdz

  46. mldnwoefym

    Feb 08. 2020

    fevniwrkzrdccegsqbvqsmybgzrjao

  47. hmeilgaapb

    Feb 08. 2020

    vvhccpbqufrrbwyxvilzhgngcudmxm

  48. qvtayhxkqw

    Feb 08. 2020

    mhcniaqrxjdcinsvebnlasouthuhew

  49. gkqmtzxlsc

    Feb 08. 2020

    bdirovsmxeeunsdxmejwvgjympysnb

  50. ngxpfthqjq

    Feb 08. 2020

    flimmngvcngnspmllhjwzktrtqcjrt

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Translate »