This exhibition, part of the 'Conexiones' program, showcases Guillermo Peñalver's self-portraits created in his studio, blending professional and private life. It features works selected by the artist from the Banco Santander Collection and Museo ABC, alongside his own drawings and cut-outs.
Guillermo Peñalver's exhibition "Autorretrato en interior" is a significant project stemming from the "Conexiones" program, a collaboration between Museo ABC and Fundación Banco Santander that supports contemporary art. For the past two years, Peñalver has developed a series of works that delve into his personal biography as the core of his artistic practice, inviting visitors into his studio where professional and private life intertwine.
The exhibition offers a rich and didactic journey through pieces chosen by the artist from the collections of Fundación Banco Santander and Museo ABC. These include Julio Le Parc's "Modulación nº 66" (1976) from the Banco Santander Collection, and from Museo ABC, three works: Emilio Ferrer's "Brígida y su boda" (1929), Ángel Díaz Huertas' "El niño y el escaparate" (1924), and Antonio Barbero's "El hombre mañoso". The exhibition also features Peñalver's private collection of white objects, titled "La cacharrería," and his original drawings created specifically for this project.
Peñalver's approach to drawing is notably unique, encompassing both traditional graphite and colored pencil techniques alongside his distinctive cut-out pieces, which have established his prominent position among contemporary artists. His work with cut-outs highlights a masterful use of various papers and cardboards, leveraging their textures, transparencies, sheens, and thicknesses to create subtle, almost imperceptible white-on-white compositions that reward patient observation with unexpected nuances.