15 May — 30 June 2015
Critical essay by Limor Gottlieb

Thirteen years after his Roman debut at the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana and following the success of his 2014 solo exhibition in London (The Naked and the Nude) and his participation at the 2013 Young Masters Prize, also in London, Rodolfo Villaplana (Valencia, 1975) is now back in Rome, to present eleven paintings of various formats from his new cycle of works entitled Furore (fury).

Since his beginnings, the Venezuelan painter has focused his attention on the human figure and on the psychological character of his subjects.

“I try to behave the same way as an actor does, and this means struggling with a character he needs to ‘incarnate’. I suspend the self to allow others to speak through me, and the canvas is the point where these two impossibilities meet”.

In these new works (seven self-portraits, two still lives, a female portrait, and a hunting scene), the artist’s eye turns toward that inner self no longer “suspended” but fully interpreted, to unveil its intrinsic nature unapologetically, with no attempt to please. He digs into his soul and renders it, humbly displayed, to the viewer. The paintings thus become a confession, making Furore his most intimate, expressive and personal work.

In her critical essay on the exhibition, Limor Gootlieb writes: “By revealing his own truth, Villaplana yet again achieves to make his work not only authentic and evermore relatable, but he further draws our gaze in closer and deeper, communicating complex emotions of solitude, broken hearts, death and transformation. Villaplana paints from his soul and is taking us on his very own personal journey, and potentially ours, in that he brings up deeply rooted issues concerning the Self, our Self. (…) There is a feeling of solitude in his paintings, a courageous solitude, which he embraces with no fear of facing his Self, his, our individuality.”

Villaplana’s “furore” goes beyond rage; it is a mental excitement, a creative mood, a poetic flair which has in his craft a seductive intelligence. It is pain and at the same time light and freedom.

Selected works

Rodolfo Villaplana
The Clown, 2015
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
Furore, 2015
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
Self portrait under the fire light, 2015
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
Red, 2015
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
Manet's hat, 2015
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
The hunt, 2014
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
Self-portrait, 2015
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
The silver tray, 2015
Enquire
Rodolfo Villaplana
Laura, 2015
Enquire

Critical essay

Furore

by Limor Gottlieb

Only the artist who doesn’t have style, needs one.
Rodolfo Villaplana

Venezuelan-born painter, Rodolfo Villaplana is known for his fascination with the human body and human psychology.

While he is known for portraying what he observes directly in his sitters or in objects as he works, in his most recent collection, Villaplana’s glance is primarily turned inwards, onto his very self. In this collection, he exposes the core of his own existence, fully unveiling it. This makes Furore Villaplana’s most personal, intimate, and expressive collection to date.

Literally, furore means ‘an outbreak of public anger or excitement’. However, the artist’s interpretation of the word transcends mere fury. Villaplana’s Furore is intellectual; it reflects a creative mood or a state of mind.

In order to achieve this state, Villaplana also breaks free from technique and style: he paints without filters and stands clear of compromise.

In this collection, he concentrates on sharing his point of view, feelings and emotions, without looking for conventional justifications and without bending to others’ opinions. He paints as he wishes without trying to please.

“This work is very intimate for me. In a way, it is a huge ‘fuck off’ to everything and everybody”, he says of the collection.

By expressing his own intimate truth, Villaplana makes his work authentic and evermore relatable. He draws viewers into these paintings by communicating complex emotions of solitude, broken hearts, death and transformation. Villaplana paints from his very soul; in doing so, he takes us on this very personal journey, making it potentially ours. He unveils deep-rooted questions concerning the Self, and, by extension, our ‘self’.

An example of this process is the large self portrait set against a velvety red background. The painting references the inexplicable paradox of the human desire to achieve that which is impossible; it portrays an uncontainable beauty staged against our fear of accepting reality. In this, the image is liberated from any form of nostalgia and optimistic stance; thus it posits that natural beauty can exist infinitely, even when it requires the subject to be destroyed.

The portrait is both one of innocence and one of solitude, where solitude is intended as a stroll inside oneself. Villaplana’s painting is charged with loneliness. And yet, the solitude he shares is also courageous – he is embracing his loneliness and shows no fear of confronting the most obscure aspects of the Self. He finds the singularity hidden within the Self, that aspect which most of us would not – or perhaps should not – understand, and thus holds a mirror up to our madness. Once embraced and fully expressed, this madness emerges in the transparency of the artistic lens: Villaplana’s self-portait is one of a man in revolt.

In this collection, Villaplana used more texture in his paintings, which makes them seem heavier. He also worked experimentally by collaborating with a fellow artist, a flower designer. She made a beautiful arrangement of flowers combining her own flowers with materials from Villalana’s garden in Tuscany where he was working.

The idea behind this still life appeared to Villaplana in a dream. He saw the flower arrangement clearly, and then painted it by calling the dream to memory. He thus delved deep into his subconscious, or his higher self, to complete the work. The result is a melancholic image of the flowers which suggests a metamorphosis, the transformation of a state of mind, perhaps, or one of the soul. The still life is paradoxically filled with movement; one can sense the wind blowing through the flowers, both vital and violent. This turns the pretty flowers into an image of torture perhaps suggesting impressions of martyrdom.

Although, Furore is a much darker collection, this collection is marked by the artist’s redefinition, redemption and rebirth.

Despite being highly influenced by the work of Albert Camus, Villaplana’s artistic technique is intellectually seductive; he almost seems to ask the viewers to dismiss his philosophical intentions as he is not making them as apparent to us as Camus – he is merely implying.

Only through art can we emerge from ourselves and know what another person sees.
Marcel Proust

The inborn impulse to rebel spurns us to determine values that can bring us to create. As Rilke, another of the artists from whom Viallaplana draws inspiration, puts it: “The artist is living and painting in heat”. Hence the artist’s experience lies so unbelievably close to the sexual, to its pain and its pleasure, that the two phenomena are really just different forms of the same longing and bliss. Both are, in effect, free of any guilt or shame attached to them.

Villaplana’s poetic power, which comes through in his paintings, is so powerful that it seems to explode like a volcano.

We all carry within us places of exile, our crimes, our ravages. Our task is not to unleash them on the world; it is to transform them in ourselves and others.
– Albert Camus

His work shows us that life is a matter of living in that state of the absurd, knowing the foundation of the mind and this world longing to connect and without ever succeeding.

For Villaplana, this darkness, this “furore”, the pain, the suffering reflected on canvas, is at the same time his light, his freedom, his spirit.

Exhibited Artists

Rodolfo Villaplana
 

Request

In order to respond to your request, we will process the personal data you have provided to communicate with you in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe from the Newsletter or change your preferences at any time by clicking on the link in our emails.

 
 

Request

 
 
Accept Refuse cogna farmhouse brown and black lightweight concrete dining benches set of 2 1a33d4ae set of 2 darrel fabric orange dining chair esteban brown leather parson dining chairs set of 2 tracey boho handmade distressed mango wood large side table multicolored zoey queen size fabric duvet kassidy white crossed leg computer desk 5121dcad neffs outdoor aluminum 5 seater chat set with water resistant cushions black natural and dark gray isadora new velvet throw pillow a578b273 isabella outdoor 9 seater acacia wood sectional sofa set 4193da97 sebastiane traditional arched windowpane mirror venice outdoor 6 seater loveseat chat set with cushions clyo mid century modern upholstered swivel office chair 9655c493 kingsbury white leather lounge accent chair 36a94214 conifer outdoor acacia wood 3 piece picnic set mason mid century modern tufted back fabric recliner set of 2 a441ab37 savone mid century modern faux wood overlay coffee table a402922b joaquin bookcase with storage cabinet 392ca47b tilson 16 modern stainless steel lantern great deal furniture mavis patio conversation set 6 seater with loveseat club chairs and coffee table gray wicker with light gray outdoor cushions f0ff0fc3 koa traditional log rack gurekam modern outdoor acacia wood folding adirondack chair 7b972d12 icey outdoor 4 piece club chair set with square fire pit keith 5 seater outdoor sectional sofa set with coffee table santa rosa outdoor wicker bench with water resistant cushion 7b9ba30b gadd outdoor aluminum 4 seater chat set with fire pit sherry outdoor barstool with cushion set of 2 pirav teak finish larch hammock base landon traditional new velvet dining chairs set of 2 2f1da48a cytheria modern glam velvet square bean bag ottoman 8295314b alexandros boho hand woven boho fabric cube pouf 2ba89843 aubrey outdoor mesh dining chairs with aluminum frame set of 2 gray gdf6618 2eed2d8a giovanna modern industrial handcrafted mango wood c shaped side table with charging port natural and black camas modern fabric upholstered iron dining chairs set of 2 29156347 julliana traditional hand woven boho fabric cube pouf 46007d9b olive outdoor 3 piece bistro set with cushions 5e697979 aryelle boho fabric cube pouf alfred button tufted fabric club chair quince mid century boho ash wood dining chairs set of 2 fe8b6d0d set of 2 sultana outdoor grey wicker stackable club chairs 190b0173 the crowne collection outdoor acacia wood and wicker club chair with cushions teak mixed brown and beige comisky french country fabric upholstered wood and cane expandable 7 piece dining set sophia mid century modern fabric chaise lounge crested bay outdoor side table ridhima boho cotton pillow cover 7813a13f orwell outdoor monk garden statue gray sadie outdoor acacia wood accent table gray finish barbie outdoor wood and wicker 8 seater dining set soleil outdoor wicker chaise lounges set of 2 w coffee table 6d1a4470 arath outdoor modern industrial acacia wood bar table 7220bc5d thalia outdoor teak finished acacia wood chaise lounge
1pc breathable tactical baseball cap multicolor mesh sun hat with skull pattern for outdoor hunting and hiking mini flower sheer socks set of 2 pairs tk3280 high polished no plating stainless steel ring with epoxy in jet keepsake cross pendant with a curb chain for men 18kt gold plated rainbow breathable laceup sneakers sterling silver light blue enamel turtle bracelet 925 sterling silver rings for women girls beach wave ring fashion rings size 7 childrens moonstones couple ring shape ring opening round devil adjustable jewelry accessories for boys and girl hand made muted floral tote lo4302 rhodium brass bangle with top grade crystal in clear mens stretch ripped denim shorts mens polyester hoodie 76edb7ef lo3669 gold brush brass earrings with synthetic synthetic glass in emerald new women downfilled shoulder bags underarm bags soft leather air cushion ladies handbbags green solid plaid stitching hotsale 18k gold over sterling silver etched satin bangle bracelet womens fashion simple bird shape earrings 16 packs elegant adjustable pretied bow ties for men boys mixed color assorted ties soft warm plush fingerless panda gloves flip half finger mittens women winter cute cat paw fluffy glove girls christmas gifts electric heated gloves usb plug touchscreen thermal gloves leather windproof winter hands warmer unisex c249be05 ninecolor turquoise cross tigereye bracelet buddha beads bracelet 925 sterling silver 200 cttw round and baguettecut diamond cluster ring hi color i1i2 clarity women arm shaping sleeves ladies elastic slimming shaperwear da286 high polished no plating stainless steel ring with aaa grade cz in black diamond sterling silver white topaz semieternity band ring size 7 sterling silver riccio bracelet sterling silver diamond accent infinity chain necklace fashion mens luxury watches men business stainless steel quartz wrist watch man sports casual leather watch mintegra women shoulder handbag roomy multiple pockets bag ladies crossbody purse fashion tote top handle satchel sterling silver twotone rose gold champagne diamond accent musical note necklace 14k yellow gold polished miami cuban chain necklace calvin klein ck5963480 striped purple square womens plastic eyeglasses gray pink women cotton sleepwear loose pyjamas pants pajama bottoms mermaid junior straw lifeguard hat lo4149 rhodium brass chain pendant with aaa grade cz in clear pleated silk chic long skirt with elastic waist creative butterfly geometric heavy metal ring christmas winter womens new sweater elk snowflake christmas jacquard knitted sweater 1pc mens and womens academy simple fashionable geometric pearl acrylic necklace 14k yellow gold round cable link chain 12mm mens pure tin material punk hip hop necklace satan pendant american street mens trendy necklace e3de3c4d womens sleeveless top fashionable casual summer shirt fashionable eyelets office work shirt cf4b0863 enamel dragonfly brooch insect animal dragonfly pins for women blue with green brooches safety pin women girls clothing decoration babydoll strappy waist amp panty criss cross waistband red xl lacoste l2121714 gold yellow rectangular unisex metal eyeglasses sterling silver rhodium plated coffee bead chain 33 mm 18k gold over sterling silver diamond accent heart cat necklace casual twopiece set for women waffle textured fabric shirt and shorts with side slits versatile ice blue summer outfit carolina herrera vhe07308f4 butterfly brown gloss rectangular womens metal eyeglasses silver star fish charm sea pendant bracelet sterling silver sea shell puffed rolo link necklace