Terán

TERÁN (Chile, 1974).
“Tribute to Warhol.” Tribute to the Geniuses series, 2023.
Oil on canvas.
Signed on the side. Signed, dated, and titled on the back.
Measurements: 60 x 60 cm.
In this work, the artist draws inspiration from one of Andy Warhol’s most iconic images: his famous series dedicated to Mao Zedong, based on the Chinese leader’s official portrait, which was mass-produced in the well-known Little Red Book. By appropriating this image of enormous political and symbolic significance, Warhol transformed an icon of power into an artistic and media object, challenging the boundaries between propaganda, celebrity, and visual culture.
Far from simply reproducing the original model, Terán establishes a contemporary dialogue with one of Pop Art’s most influential works. The image of Mao—transformed by Warhol into a global icon through the use of intense colors and techniques typical of mass reproduction—reappears here reinterpreted through painting, affirming the relevance of this medium as a space for reflection on art history and the persistence of images in the collective memory. The work retains the visual power and recognizable character of the original reference, but incorporates a personal interpretation that transcends a mere aesthetic quotation.
Terán is a Chilean visual artist with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Chile who has been based in Spain since 2000. Throughout his career, he has held solo and group exhibitions in Europe and Latin America. His work is included in public and private collections, including that of the Museum of Visual Arts (MAVI) in Santiago, Chile. Among his most notable projects is *Retrato Capital*, begun in 2005, a series dedicated to the contemporary urban landscape that has toured numerous Spanish cities. More recently, he has developed the series *Tribute to the Geniuses*