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JOSÉ MARÍA MENACHO
Menacho paints reality as if he were a magician, because there must be some magic in those representations of a fragmented nature. He creates a surreal version of nature, one with strong and expressive colors, he synthesizes shapes under his particular artistic view. He uses materials and colors that give vitality to his creative space, and also provide a formal synthesis that seeks the essence of things.
In his works we find elements that neither actually exist in reality. He uses the color to achieve expressive power that sometimes materializes in strong fillings that increase their force by the proximity of the complementary colors. Light is an explosion of matter or just a whisper diluted in the immateriality of shades. He uses with singular skill a wide range of expressive resources, which allow him to bring the materials to the overall goal of each of his works. He draws with agility with fillings or just outlined brush- strokes.
The human being as a unique metaphor is for Menacho a way to express the most diverse matters; maybe that's why it is one of the most repeated elements in his compositions, demonstrating the boldness of many of his works, in which the figures appear in complicated foreshortenings. Although to a lesser extent, he does delve into all pictorial genres, infusing his personality in the representation of inanimate objects or landscapes,giving them a life and expressiveness that were not there before the artist set his sights on that segment of nature and decided to enliven it.
Because life is one of the aspects that most stands out in his work. A full life-throb of light and color, suggestive shadows which reinforce the almost surreal atmosphere of the world he invents. Surreal and sometimes disturbing because of the urgency that seems to assault him with some of his works. As if the artist felt the need to finish when just started, to start immediately any of his many ideas; He has painted them so many times in his mind that he just needs a few minutes for their material externalization.
His extensive creative work shows an artist of a great technique,a master in drawing, who dares to play with color like a magician, for whom the real world is a mere excuse to recreate his own world.
In his works we find feelings, like echoes from the great tradition of the traditional Spanish painting
"It is my admiration for the artists and aficionados who so sincerely paint, from whom I learn at all times to improve and to have the same illusion that they have.
In the solitude of my studio with my fears and successes; those moments when I am in front of the canvas, then is when my reverence for the art kicks in and I feel around me the silence and the vigilant gaze of the teachers
To say that my work is born and grows in a gestation of love and continuous search with the sole intention of giving from me everything which is beautiful, everything that nature puts before me for me to communicate with others.
For all this, I decided in my maturity, to approach the masters and hear their messages. Always from my inner deeps I will follow this path."