Mazinger Z in the Gran Via street

This is a picture of 100 x 70 cm, which was hilarious that I have given away a few days ago for my birthday.

Mazinger Z is in the middle of Calle Gran Via de Madrid.

Tags: creativity, Gran Via, Madrid, Mazinger z, Painting

Culture and Technology: only brave

As a concept culture and the internet chirrían even a little.

I am sure that new technology will revolutionize the coming years in the cultural movements, especially art, music and literary world.

But that was not new and already thinking 5 or 10 years ago, the problem is that it does not arrive, there are hardly any cultural initiatives related to culture on the Internet in general; symbolic in Spain and almost nonexistent in Latin America. It is sad but that is the case.

Investors, projects and the "attack on niche markets" as fashion and in order of importance in the economic, are to blame for delaying go cultural projects that could be very interesting and even more dynamic cultural movements, but by day Today at the corporate level would not be cost-effective nor feasible in a country like Spain, where the cultural consumption is low. We are in a country where you hear lots of music (which rarely purchase), in which the rate of book sales is low, and that despite having 2 of the major art museums in the world (Museum Prado, and in contemporary art and avant-garde MNCARS) if the visit is usually an "almost" the only Spanish there.

One such project is the merit of Angel Maria Herrera, with whom I ate a few days ago at Club 31 in Madrid (indeed, the very traditional restaurant that has earned the 5 cucharetes that have ). Bubok, the draft Angel Maria, was born as an alternative editorial publishing and transplanting emulating the model of Lulu to the Spanish market.

First is a romantic and above all ambitious long-term, and secondly offers unexplored possibilities for the future, not only for publishing the author, but especially for the reprinting and editing works out of hundreds of publishers who do not There are ways to get by the high cost of printing and distribution in series. All of that will come and Angel Maria would have the merit of having taken over an area of privilege and of having bet on the literary world on the Internet where one's own editorial neither had done so yet, something that not many we would have dared.

The entrepreneur of cultural projects in Spain, especially if you get funding and carrying out, but a dreamer brave, or crazy, or a friqui. I have no doubt that Angel Maria is neither crazy nor a friqui.

I met him personally more than a year ago, I remember we ate on the occasion of the book he published "15 years of the Internet in Spain" next to Jorge Villabona in the editorial Owl Group, wanted to talk with me and hear my story and had the detail of course 1 devote extensive chapter of the book to count my wanderings along the major characters of the new technologies in Spain as Bernardo Hernandez, Luis Abril, Jesus Encinas, Carlos Blanco, Emilio Marquez, Ismael El-Qudsi, Jesus Monleón, Sixto Arias, Javier Martin and Rodolfo Carpintier, among others. I've always seemed like a very sensible person and has a professional staff and very curious, he sees a person who has concerns and has done many different things in life and with a clear vocation and by the cultural background. Adding to all this entrepreneurial spirit and capacity of conviction who has had to be surrounded by bright people in an advisory council and get to convince investors of the size of Sequoia, Europa Press, El Grupo Intercom, Andreu Teixedor and Caja Navarra.

I wish you the truth it goes well the adventure of Bubok, that in different markets, has similarities and reminds me in some things in our draft Yes.fm and I would love to, because we talk about music and literature, literary and music industry, someone of significance to a project seriously and be encouraged with the leg of another great culture and one of my great passions, art.

If that project comes to an end, to me that I would not call what I want to lose and I would love to participate.

Tags: Angel Maria Herrera, Art, Bernardo Hernandez, bubok, Carlos Blanco, culture, Emilio Marquez, Ismael al-Qudsi, Javier Martin, Encinar Jesus, Jesus Monleón, Jorge Villabona, books, literature, Luis Abril, music, Rodolfo Carpintier, Sixto arias, Yes.fm

The realism of Muñoz Vera

Today is one of those days that I do not have a lot of wins to speak of technology, neither business nor the internet, in fact I think I took the morning a little relaxed and I'm in the office quietly reading a book. Come and field and beach Raro ... I be so lazy, but occasionally necessary. Today I am particularly well

Wore in the mood to talk about Guillermo Munoz Vera quite a while and I think so relaxed this morning (finally) it's time to do so.

Guillermo in a Chilean painter, who lives in Spain, specifically on the outskirts of Madrid in Chinchón. It is one of the great painters of our time realistically, with a very refined and similar to that of Claudio Bravo, which is comparable inevitable.

Realism is not fashionable, I love it, you are going to make a will at times against the tide. Some of the boxes Muñoz Vera relax me especially. I do not even carry his own and work for several years saying that "this year I buy something," but I have not even found the box I want it. Only that would be a box lot of interpretation of light.

Guillermo founded Arauco (Art and Contemporary Authors) years ago in front of his house in Chinchón, ARACUO Foundation is an academy of artists and a wonderful project that I just put a snag, many of the artists who come from there, working with a highly refined technique, but in the compositions and ideas seem to be all Muñoz Vera.

Some years ago I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with William at his home. The dealer who was his Bonelo Carmen, I knew that I wanted to meet him and took me to see him. His house (spectacular, with some impressive ancient caves below) and I could see him work. At that time preparing an exhibition at the Gallery Ansorena and had just returned from a trip to the glaciers in Chile.

I was surprised a lot of their age and their commitment to digital technology, as well as how they work, where you have to make those digital photos with photoshop images up and then works on them and paint using them as a model.

I leave with you here some pictures of William at you like you recommend given a tour of the Virtual Gallery Artelibre to see the rest of his work:

Tags: Art, muñoz vera, painting, Realism

Put a Manolo Valdes in his life

A few days ago in the comments on my last post of art Chisco I suggested some talk of Valencia painters, including Manolo Valdes.

At the same comments I picked up the gauntlet delighted because that forced me to write something Valdes, one of my favorite painters.

The reality is that I live surrounded by works of Manolo Valdes. There are sculptures of itself to the Airport of Madrid, in the Parque Enrique Tierno Galvan, in Alcobendas a huge and magnificent "Menina" from 7 meters (wonderful investment for the town of Alcobendas. What it is worth today!), Was purchased at a good time, in 1999, before the explosion of the international price of Manolo. Some gurus complained about the purchase, now worth double or triple (see The World of date). Even in the CC Xanadu have had the good taste to buy several sculptures of heads of Valdes and take them there exposed; a luxury. Also, the Reina Sofia (MNCARS) has a splendid sculpture of wood, very useful to see.

If an artist I want to pass on his study today without having succeeded, that's Manolo Valdes. His treatment of the subject, their burlap, its themes and its classical sculptures attracted me particularly. His studio is in NYC and I understand he has another season in Spain when it happens in our country.

His contribution in the past 7-8 years has risen through the roof, some of that work is certainly merit to one of the best 3 artists who deal with the matter in this country (Valdes, Tapies and Barcelo), but it is also a great merit of the Marlborough Gallery, to which any disparagingly called the McDonalds of art galleries, but that really is a factory for the promotion and sale to private collectors and institutions.

The year was 2001 or 2002 when one day I went to see a picture of Antonio Lopez at the Marlborough Gallery in Madrid. There, Alexandra, who now works for Sotheby's, showed me the table was going to see in their stores away from prying eyes. There, beside him, I discovered a huge Valdes of 1.90 cm in height. A burlap mater of the year 98 possibly in a series sold well in the exhibitions of the author in the gallery SEN Madrid (pictures of this artist on classic themes: Meninas, Philip IV and generally full-length portraits of Velazquez and so influential. are very much wanted nothing to do with "handbags" and "shoes", often shocking and even then are sold easily).

This type of paintings, sculptures and more classic Manolo have doubled its price in the market since 2000. Parts are very difficult to find and that today are already prohibitive. I bought it for an amount very important, but also very happy because today my investment has appreciated more than 100%, which is not too significant, since I do not have any intention of selling it.

Total, which operates as a pulse, at 2 days of the operatives of Art brought McDonalds protected as they deserve this table and I hung since then accompanies me every day.

I like the piece because it has a lot more area (to cement!) Than other similar knew, was emphatic (in the photo that is not very well appreciated by the methyl protecting it). This is one of my favorite paintings. I would love to have a sculpture of a small to accompany Menina

Tags: Antonio Lopez, burlap, Barceló, Marlborough Gallery, Manolo Valdes, Tapies

The strange story of a scene: the Avignon DIBUS of Antonio de Felipe

These days I have received several emails reminding, that I undertook to talk about art 1 time a week and was not satisfied. A good American friend, visiting Spain and CEO of a major multinational telecommunications company, and in addition to the art aficionado, connoisseur of this story urged me to tell the tale.

It is true that this return to the frenetic activity after the summer has not left me a long time, and I wanted to come back to post 1 a week on painting especially. I relaxed a little paint and write in both days of work, I want to force a gap for letting me do this, I think it is healthy for me

I do not particularly like the pop art, frankly, but if I have a particular weakness for a pop artist, Antonio de Felipe.

Antonio Valencia is an original painter who lives settled on the borderline between Madrid and Valencia hometown, and maintains that studies (worth seeing) in both cities.

Comes from the world of advertising, is a very creative person and his work is meant values from the viewpoint of advertising creativity. You also do not know if the grace or the misfortune of being possibly the most pirated painter of the country ( not only pirating movies and mp3, also another form of art). The images of the table characteristic of Audrey Hepburn Antonio has pirated, copied and reproduced in magazines, paintings, T-shirts, postcards and posters dozens of companies (many of them, complained one day) without permission or authorization. Their reproductions are sold as donuts, and its original painted on canvas reach high prices (which also are public and are on website)

But today count the history of the painting "The DIBUS of Avignon" I've already counted on another occasion in Spain Art, our art blog. This huge table, is a genial pop tribute to the "Ladies of Avignon" of such a Picasso.

The story goes back to 2002. In that year contacted the Gallery Maria Jose Castellvi, Barcelona, representing Antonio concerned for his work. I received a number of polaroid photographs in the mail a few days and one of them was "The DIBUS of Avignon." I jumped like a spring to see the photo, if I wanted to have some pop-art, had to be that box!. I loved it.

I remember that back then talked and talked to the gallery and to my regret we do not reach an economic agreement. At that precise moment do not know, but never forgot "my" box.
They spent the years and I was more difficult than usual (I insist the pop art is not mine) to see pop works, as long as compared with that picture. The hardware-polaroid photo was still in a drawer of my desk. The preserved years.

One day in early 2007, writing a small post in ArteSpain experience and I mentioned that I commented on the table, so striking a few days later I wrote the very Antonio de Felipe, fun and surprise and invited me to visit him at his home studio.

I went there one afternoon, and Antonio, charming showed me his home and studio work, fun and original (you can view photos on their website), and at one point, I wanted to teach something special. To my surprise, was there, at his home table. I had been there, like waiting for all these years.

I am among those who think it is not and should not tempt fate, or let the opportunity pass twice. I do not think, and even cost me a lot more expensive than I could have cost at the time (they had spent years and the price of Antonio as the foam rises every year), I did it with the piece.

Leverage works in my new home for leave this box for a privileged space in my living room, the table measured almost 2 x 2 meters and is not easy to locate:-D! And since then is in the living room of my house.

Incidentally, although I have not thrown the old photo, Polaroid, which in its day I sent the gallery. The fondly keep on my desk, and it seems some of the furniture and I think that will haunt it for years. And even among my eyebrow and eyebrow Antonio to buy something else since then, this sculpture "The cow from Coca-Cola" who always made me also thank you very much and I could see in his house.

(Antonio: Guardamela that this also is going to come home, and I'm making a hole)

Tags: Antonio de Felipe, pop art, DIBUS avignon, sculpture, Picasso Painting, cow coca cola

The generosity of an artist, being possibly the best painter of the world

I like Eduardo Naranjo. I always thought, though I understand that may sound absurd to some, which technically is the best painter in the world, and that its cadres, especially the era from 1978 to 1985 marked a turning point in the Spanish realist painting.

Actually, what Eduardo exceptional is that you like it or not you like art, you like it or not you like the painting, if you pass by an exhibit in which there is a work you going to stop yours to admire. If you do not like the painting and not know the history of Tàpies, Chillida, Valdes, or possibly Barceló Spare his works, but if you pararás front of the boxes Naranjo.

Already been many years collecting his work when I met him and invited me to his house for the first time. I remember that I took the afternoon off and went to his house, which is close to mine. We spent a fun afternoon chatting in the study annexed to his beach house in La Moraleja, and he was half in shock at seeing a person of my age, would then have 25 or 26 years-follow so closely and knew her well work, and were interested in moving with him that afternoon of Friday I keep those hours, a good memory, we were able to see and speak of many things all afternoon, showed me his studio, home, memories, pictures, and I could see him paint. A real luxury.

He was painting a large-format box, a huge swell, with painting and with the field, the table would have about 120 centimeters wide. Eduardo is so thorough, that works not only of that size are hard to come by but are both working for him that can only produce maybe 4 or 5 works of this caliber a year. I was interested in knowing who was going to paint in that box, only sketch a huge blue sea and I explained his idea in detail, and I indicated that at least would take even more than a month to finish it. One sometimes has a hunch, and from that day, even in the medium-paint it, a bit surreal situation, we agreed that the painting out of his studio a month later only to come to my house. And so it was, and since then, and here is what I enjoy on a daily basis, jointly agreed to call it "The Sea and Other Universes."

A year later, on my original box, Eduardo called me and made some photos to make some lithographs, something that made me really excited. Today, even some sold in galleries these reproductions of the work.

The first time I came into the living room of her house I saw a picture he had seen a thousand times reproduced in books, but that he had never seen in person 'Musas with reverie. " This is an enormous book (200 × 300cm!), In which he worked more than 2 years!, Possibly the most representative picture of his career. Never before had a chart hit me so much in photography is almost impossible to appreciate the depth and quality of this work, it is very difficult to reproduce the detail of a painting of 3 meters wide by 2 high.

I read Monica Kreibohm in ArteSpain days ago that Edward has decided to take down your house and donate your table more representative to the most important museum of contemporary art in Spain, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (MNCARS). It is a gesture that not only immortalize his work, but it will make everyone can enjoy it for centuries. On that table, I know that a number of good ink collectors, one of Elos a person close to me, have come to offer Eduardo over a million Euros, even a major employer in Zurich in Basel to give a blank check for that would put the figure, and Eduardo, not only has not sold, not only what has dropped his living room (I stress that are 3 feet wide by 2 high! But it has given us all.

Tags: Art, Eduardo Naranjo, MNCARS, painting, Realism

My first photo

And on occasion I have spoken to one of my real passion, painting.

But today he wanted draw to explain how that little by little I begin to diversify my investments in art to other disciplines. In particular a couple of months ago I bought my first picture.

Juan Curto, apart from good friend is an expert in photography. Some years ago we agree together on a Master of Management of Art Galleries in Iart. Yo, possibly sooner or later opened a gallery, but that was John and I said a few months, very brave, was thrown to the river by opening a gallery specializing in photography, technique less popular and less market that the painting and sculpture today. Today we have spent a couple of years and his room, Dark House, is indisputably a landmark in photography in Spain, participating in national and international fairs.

I wanted to put in the hands of John to buy my first photo. And I offered several alternatives. Me, I enjoy and I understand a bit of contemporary painting, I recognize to be a total zero to the left in photography and in these cases is imperative left advise and learn from a professional.

I finally opted for this photo of a South African artist who was unknown to me named Johann Ryno de Wet. The picture is worrying and of great format and I'm very happy with my first purchase of a picture. I thought you would enjoy it, the title "The Guardian" (2006).

Tags: dark room, Photography, Johann Ryno de Wet, John Curto

Art with LEGO pieces

The pieces of LEGO marked several generations of treintañeros.

But seldom have I seen such incredible things like this, the bird in question is called Nathan Sawaya and does wonders with Lego like this. As such, pure art.

Tags: Art, incredible, Lego

Not only technology living man. To sample a button: Antonio Lopez Garcia

This is my personal blog, and even though it will be marked by new technologies and the Internet, I can not ignore my other passion, art, particularly contemporary painting and avant-garde Spanish.

Leo Monica Kreibohm in ArteSpain that comes to auction today a unique piece, which will mark a turning point in the painting in Spain. This is the table "Madrid, from Torres Blancas" (150 × 244cm approx) table created over 6 years, which the auction room Christies, with an estimated price of output without precedent for a living artist Spanish: between 3,000,000 $ And $ 4,000,000

As they know, but I feel that will be sold Crisis, what crisis?. I just want to show here from a desire to stay in Spain, that the government intervene in the auction and what wins for the Reina Sofia Museum or the MACBA, which could earmark a preferred location for a piece like this.

Antonio Lopez is not only one of the great painters realistic but personally I think it will go down in history of the great painters and will be studied for centuries alongside other great contemporary Spanish artist, Lucian Freud, and will be remembered as the great painters of realistic the time.

I always liked the works of Antonio, in fact I have a small piece I bought at an auction in Germany for years. I remember a few days to do so, I received the touch of his daughter Mary, and one of those accidents of fate a few days at home of Antonio, with him having breakfast in his kitchen near where I lived then in The Pinar Chamartin in Madrid. It is incredible to see the extent to which a person can be "normal" and very flat, and the extent to which live isolated from the major figures in the work of the day to day, a guy who is one of the great myths of the history of painting in Spain and will be remembered for his work in the coming centuries: something that only 2-3 Spanish artists living may make.

I remember that in the latest edition of the congress of Forum Domains, which I had the pleasure of participating with Carlos Blanco and Marcos Sainz in a panel discussion, asked me if I had 10 Million Euros if spent on generic domains. This morning I changed my mind response, if any, I would love to be able to buy Antonio with some of that money a piece like this, and what for many can be a snobbery and be frowned upon, (such as paying high numbers for a artwork), I frankly think that in this case is not only a good investment, but also would enjoy far have in front of me, in my house every day a book like this.

Update: It has sold 1.74 million Euros, with Antonio Lopez enshrining such as the Spanish painter contributed more in life.

Tags: Antonio Lopez, Art, Dominos, Painting Auctions