TOUCHING THE SKY
Willa Decjusza invites you to an exhibition of paintings by Catalan artist Julen W. The exhibition at Strzelnica na Woli will be on view from 10 October until the end of November.
Julen Vargas Vinacua (Julen W.), born in 1995 in Vilanova i la Geltrú, is a painter specialising in figurative and realist painting.
An important area of his artistic practice is the Món Casteller – the tradition of building human towers. It is here that the artist has found a unique subject for creating portraits and depictions of figures in motion. He is fascinated by the idea of community and cooperation, embodied in the principle of “all together, as one”. In his work, Vargas Vinacua also explores architecture and interiors. He has created detailed paintings of the interiors of the Víctor Balaguer Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú. His works have been presented in various exhibition spaces, restaurants and bars in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Vilafranca del Penedès, Vallirana, Montcada i Reixac, Sitges and Barcelona.
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"Among the many practices and cultural manifestations that together form what might be called “Catalanness”, two are particularly important to Julen W.’s artistic practice. Both are emblematic elements of Catalan cultural heritage: the tradition of castells, recognised by UNESCO in 2010 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the architecture of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona. [...] The poetic statement, “Those who do not know our human towers will find it difficult to know Catalonia” (Català i Roca 1981: 513), aptly conveys the importance of this tradition to the Catalan people." - Jadwiga Romanowska
"[...] They therefore share a clear common denominator: in both we find the symbolism of the tower and the presence of organic forms; both feature the motif of crossing boundaries and overcoming limitations. The idea behind the exhibition is aptly expressed by a painting that directly brings these two themes together. It depicts a human tower against the soaring façade of the Sagrada Família. Joined into a single, collective organism, the castellers create a striking analogy with Gaudí’s organic architecture, seemingly moulded from living matter. The two structures – one human, the other made of stone – perfectly overlap; both have the same goal: they attempt to “touch the sky”." - Bogna Dziechciaruk-Maj
VISITING
The exhibition is open on Tuesdays (4–8 pm), Fridays and Sundays (11 am–6 pm).
Tickets cost PLN 10 (concessionary) and PLN 15 (regular) and are available at bilety.willadecjusza.pl
An important area of his artistic practice is the Món Casteller – the tradition of building human towers. It is here that the artist has found a unique subject for creating portraits and depictions of figures in motion. He is fascinated by the idea of community and cooperation, embodied in the principle of “all together, as one”. In his work, Vargas Vinacua also explores architecture and interiors. He has created detailed paintings of the interiors of the Víctor Balaguer Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú. His works have been presented in various exhibition spaces, restaurants and bars in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Vilafranca del Penedès, Vallirana, Montcada i Reixac, Sitges and Barcelona.
–
"Among the many practices and cultural manifestations that together form what might be called “Catalanness”, two are particularly important to Julen W.’s artistic practice. Both are emblematic elements of Catalan cultural heritage: the tradition of castells, recognised by UNESCO in 2010 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the architecture of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona. [...] The poetic statement, “Those who do not know our human towers will find it difficult to know Catalonia” (Català i Roca 1981: 513), aptly conveys the importance of this tradition to the Catalan people." - Jadwiga Romanowska
"[...] They therefore share a clear common denominator: in both we find the symbolism of the tower and the presence of organic forms; both feature the motif of crossing boundaries and overcoming limitations. The idea behind the exhibition is aptly expressed by a painting that directly brings these two themes together. It depicts a human tower against the soaring façade of the Sagrada Família. Joined into a single, collective organism, the castellers create a striking analogy with Gaudí’s organic architecture, seemingly moulded from living matter. The two structures – one human, the other made of stone – perfectly overlap; both have the same goal: they attempt to “touch the sky”." - Bogna Dziechciaruk-Maj
VISITING
The exhibition is open on Tuesdays (4–8 pm), Fridays and Sundays (11 am–6 pm).
Tickets cost PLN 10 (concessionary) and PLN 15 (regular) and are available at bilety.willadecjusza.pl