Delincuente
1973
Tridimensional construction, canvas, aluminium sheet, photographic emulsion, oil, in plexiglass
243 × 142 × 122 cm (95 11/16 × 55 7/8 × 48 1/16 in.)
In the 1970s, Spanish artist Darío Villalba (1939-2018) made a series of works that were unique in their materiality and purpose. The process of "encapsulating" human figures from photographs and paintings in methacrylate and plexiglass structures became one of his trademarks.
Delincuente (Delinquent) attests to that original approach. A picture of a man taken on the spot is on the front of the work. Floating in the air, he appears, disappears and allows our image to be reflected in the mirror on the other side. The artist works with figures taken from life, frozen in their solitude. The plexiglass cage that imprisons them can be likened to a chrysalis allowing them to be reborn in this violent world.
Delincuente, which is part of the Pinault Collection, was exhibited for the first time during the "Debout !" ("Stand Up!") show at the Couvent des Jacobins in Rennes in 2018.
Delincuente (Delinquent) attests to that original approach. A picture of a man taken on the spot is on the front of the work. Floating in the air, he appears, disappears and allows our image to be reflected in the mirror on the other side. The artist works with figures taken from life, frozen in their solitude. The plexiglass cage that imprisons them can be likened to a chrysalis allowing them to be reborn in this violent world.
Delincuente, which is part of the Pinault Collection, was exhibited for the first time during the "Debout !" ("Stand Up!") show at the Couvent des Jacobins in Rennes in 2018.
Exhibitions
Darío VILLALBA © Adagp, Paris.
Photo: Marc Domage