Timothy Taylor Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new etchings by the internationally acclaimed Spanish artist Miquel Barceló. Shown for the first time in the UK, this outstanding body of graphic work titled ‘Lanzarote’ deals with recurring motifs from nature and Spanish culture that have populated his work since the beginning of his career; specifically the bullfight and the sea.

Barceló’s classical draughtsmanship and his altered perspective force the viewer to confront the drama of the bullfight at close quarters. Borrowing from early Renaissance ideas of perspective, the spatial arrangement of each scene places the spectator at the centre of the action, whilst at the same time demonstrating a deep knowledge of the anatomy of the bull and bullfighter. Barceló revisits the themes of the bullfight and the ellipse, which has inspired his work since the 1980s and feature in his celebrated 1990 series of bullfight paintings.

There are eleven bullfighting etchings in this exhibition, which evoke the drama and raw sexuality of Picasso’s Vollard Suite (1930-1937). But perhaps these images are a subconscious response to an encounter the artist had with a bull in 1988:
“I was in front of a bull…Ordonaz (the bullfighter), who has just died with a fierce bull, egged me on. I only had one finger torn, on my right hand; nothing major. I have a cloak at home that I used”. Miquel Barceló

Three delicate etchings of fish display an observance of nature so refined that the images are reminiscent of pre-historic fossils or Japanese woodcuts. Skilled at harnessing the elements in his drawings, Barceló is able to depict a palpable world of the sea.

Six seascapes with aquatint further reflect his fascination with natural forms, both earthly and maritime. Barceló effortlessly captures the fluidity and energy of the ocean. His etching conveys the movement and texture of the sea and translates it two dimensionally without loss of the energy. Printed in editions of 35 over a period of three years on white Arches wove paper using copper plates, the twenty etchings in this exhibition were produced at Barceló’s own printing press in Lanzarote. Although Barceló is a skilled graphic artist, he produces a limited number of etchings and rarely exhibits them.

Barceló is currently working on a commission in the Chapel of Sant Pere at Palma de Mallorca Cathedral. He was born in 1957 in Felanitx, Mallorca. He studied at the Escuela de Bellas Artes y Oficios in Palma and at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Barcelona. Solo exhibitions have included: Musée des Arts Decorativs, Palais Louvre, Paris (2000); Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (1998); Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris, France (1996) and Whitechapel Art Gallery, London (1994). Group exhibitions have included; Musée du Louvre, Paris (2004); Musée Toulouse Lautrec, Albi (1996) and ‘Documenta 7’, Kassel (1982).

Timothy Taylor Gallery is at 24 Dering Street, London W1S 1TT.
Open 10-6pm Mon-Fri; 10-1pm Sat.
For further information please contact Lee Johnson, tel: 020 7409 3344 or email: [email protected]