Vicente Arnás Lozano

VICENTE ARNÁS LOZANO (Madrid, 1949).
“Icarus,” 2023.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower right corner. Signed and dated on the reverse.
Measurements: 81 x 65 cm.
In *Icarus*, Vicente Arnás creates a theatrical scene in which history, fantasy, and humor coexist within the same pictorial space. The title refers to the figure from Greek mythology who sought to reach the sun with wings of wax, but the artist moves away from a literal representation of the myth to transform it into a personal interpretation, with Velázquez serving as the sun in this instance. Arnás replaces the court of Philip IV depicted in *Las Meninas* with a universe of his own, populated by extravagant characters and fantastical elements. The artist, who appears in the foreground dressed in a striking blue suit and wearing an enormous hat, seems to simultaneously occupy the roles of both the painter and a theatrical character. Behind him, the female figure and the painting in the background help recreate the characteristic “scene within a scene” structure that defines *Las Meninas*.
Vicente Arnás is a painter from Madrid who began his artistic career in the world of advertising. After several years of experience, his first solo exhibition took place in 1976 at the Macarrón Gallery in Madrid. Following the success of his first exhibition, he embarked on an exhibition career that has taken him to places such as New York and various European countries, participating in prestigious art fairs such as ARCO and Europ Art, held in Geneva. In addition, he has received numerous awards, including the Medal of Honor at the BMW Painting Prize and the Real Maestranza de Sevilla Award, among others. This has earned him recognition from both the public and critics. His painting is characterized by the recreation of dreamlike, serene worlds where time seems to stand still. He creates worlds with a realistic aesthetic, drawing on movements such as magical realism and influences from artists like Arcimboldo and Hieronymus Bosch. For a time, he was a member of the group “Nueve expresiones,” with whom he exhibited in several group shows.