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Opera Gallery platforms the constructive abstraction of art history by Manolo Valdés
The Spanish artist experiments with materials
Image: Courtesy of Manolo Valdés and Opera Gallery
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Opera Gallery platforms the constructive abstraction of art history by Manolo Valdés

The monographic exhibition ‘Manolo Valdés- Recent Works’ showcases sculptural artworks with figurative references to Reina Mariana and Botticelli’s figure of Clio.

by Ayushi Mathur
Published on : Jul 25, 2022

Art is frequently regarded as an expression of powerful emotions that serve as silent dictators of events throughout history. A legacy that fosters a poetic conversation between visual literacy and cultural antiquity in order to better pave the way for the future of design and creativity. Opera Gallery, Paris is all set to display the works of the legendary Spanish artist Manolo Valdés who is best renowned for his commentary on artworks that traverses the subcontinents of art history.

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Regina II Azul by Monolo Valdés Image: Courtesy of Manolo Valdés and Opera Gallery

The prestigious gallery will host the anticipated exhibition from September 15, 2022, till October 13, 2022. 'Manolo Valdés- Recent Works' is a celebratory monographic show featuring some of the prolific artist's sculptural creations as inspiring abstractions of old art figures. “Many paintings or photographs attract my attention whenever I visit a museum or a gallery. They pop in and out of my head, often for years. I sometimes translate them into my artwork,” shares the iconic artist on his inspiration from historical art pieces.

STIR dives into the vibrant world of Manolo Valdés while discussing the works of the Opera Gallery.

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A sculptural artwork by Manolo Valdés alongside a portrait of Manolo Valdés Image: Courtesy of Manolo Valdés and Opera Gallery

Despite the difficulty of deciphering Valdés' creative language, one cannot help but observe the beauty of specificity in his constructive and abstract modifications of sculptural forms. For the artist, a canvas isn't big enough to tell a tale, thus he prefers to express himself through sculptures. “The reason why I choose any artwork as inspiration is that it has previously seduced me,” he says. We climb into his creative cave…The Spanish artist observes an artwork, retains his attention and resonates with figurative language only to offer sculptures and art pieces that not only assign a historic essence but also a contemporary aura. His new works can be seen as references to the Spanish artist Diego Velázquez’s Reina Mariana. In the 1953 picture, the Spanish Golden Age master beautifully highlights Mariana of Austria’s small physique, making her appear sensual and rich. The painting glorified the feminine curves and the queen consort’s weighed-down expression.

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The colourful resin interpretation of the Reina Mariana Image: Courtesy of Manolo Valdés and Opera Gallery
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Manolo Valdés’ ‘Recent works’ at Opera Gallery

Moving to the 21st century, Valdés draws inspiration from the emblematic physique and produces compositions that radiate a true sense of lightness, clean geometry and a vivacious overtone. "When I put many eyes on one face I put them because Picasso taught me that it's possible to do that. If drops or splashes of paint fall on the canvas I use them because Pollock made works of art with them and in the same measure I use geometry," says Valdés

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Valdés draws inspiration from Diego Velázquez’s Reina Mariana Image: Courtesy of Manolo Valdés and Opera Gallery

The Spanish artist’s latest creations are also an inscription of the bold artworks by Kasimir Malévitch, a Polish-Ukrainian artist whose pioneering work gave birth to suprematism in art. As the concept goes, suprematism in art honours and highlights the purest geometric shapes as artistic expressions, which Valdés uses to adorn his figurines. “Kazimir Malevich has always been an artist that has interested me. And I wanted to contrast it with an artist from the 17th century. I used Velazquez with his image of Reina Mariana and I sculpted her out of wood and then used her as a support to interpret Malevich,” says Valdés. Ranging from simple sculpted faces inspired by Botticelli’s figure of Clio heavily adorned with beautifully coloured headgears with semicircles, butterflies, and squares to resin-sculpted vibrant figures of Mariana, the Opera Gallery is all set to feature the artistic and insightful mind of Manolo Valdés. Opera Gallery, which hosts multiple artists across different locations throughout the world has been an integral setting for young and established artists to present their work.

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The ornamented sculptures by Manolo Valdés Image: Courtesy of Manolo Valdés and Opera Gallery

Articulating the exhibition for Manolo Valdés significantly calls for an elaborate discussion on the prestigious platform which successfully presents an assortment of work by young and established artists globally. Gilles Dyan founded the Opera Gallery in 1994 and now has a wide global network of 14 art galleries worldwide. The original Parisian outlet is situated in the golden triangle of Paris and is directed by Marion Petitdidier. The gallery not only displays the latest works of different artists but also holds a permanent collection of works by modern, post-war and contemporary artists including Pablo Picasso, Jean Dubuffet, Alexander Calder, Pierre Soulages, Manolo Valdés, and Georg Baselitz among others. “Art is my passion. Over the years, I have had the privilege to see in person so many historical and iconic artworks and to have met so many great artists. The more art I see and the more artists I meet, the more my passion for art increases,” says Gilles Dyan about his source of inspiration for celebrating, curating and creating art.

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Gilles Dyan, Founder of Opera Gallery Image: Courtesy of Cutrona

The gallery has a founding principle of making art accessible to all. Gilles Dyan, an established art enthusiast, originally studied medicine, and despite having no expertise in the world of art, he managed to not only collect art but also to platform it in the greatest way possible. “We are established in countries where there are incredibly talented artists. Not only do we try to promote these young talents locally but our ultimate aim is to show their work in our spaces internationally. Our collectors love to discover new talents. This is one of the things I appreciate most about having galleries worldwide: to make discover young American or Asian talent to my European collectors and vice versa,” concludes Dyan.

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