Retrospective of Miquel Vilà at the Sala Parés

This exhibition features a selection of works by Miquel Vilà (Barcelona, 1940) in the form of a retrospective. It is just one of the many journeys that could be constructed around Vilà's pictorial proposal, which, sincere and direct, highlights and asserts the power of painting itself as a poetic language and a plastic presence that goes beyond pictorial genres, themes, and trends.

Vilà evokes a struggle through the tension of the brushstroke, as in his interiors, which arc with libraries in turmoil. The painter does not need to sweeten or embellish reality, since his message is harsh and austere, and, surely for this reason, his compositions are always imbued with the sensation that something momentous is about to happen. The boundless force of his painting challenges us and invites reflection. Thus, the tortuous interiors, the objects isolated on a beach and confronted with the pathos of nature, the abandoned urban landscapes or solitary roads. Everything seems on the verge of being swallowed by a storm that shakes the viewer. The recurring series on bombings explores this same potent force of destruction as a generator of a new reality.

The twilight light allows Vilà to explore contrasts through shadows and textural thicknesses, as well as to instill an existential and vibrant tone that connects with the Italian metaphysical painting he so admires. This light-between mystery and nightmare-envelops everything and becomes a tool that triggers reflection on the physicality of matter, as well as meditation on temporality. No anecdote or narrative is needed; the object alone is overwhelming and impressive in itself, and its personality and vigor are attained through pure painting. Vilà meticulously defends craftsmanship and, above all, stands as a champion of painting as a language. For him, painting is a refuge against the hostile world around him, but also the most adept and secure weapon against adversity. His compositions are a veritable hymn of resistance against the agony that, according to Vilà, contemporary painting endures.