Rafa Macarrón Explores Shape-Shifting Characters at La Nave

La Nave Salinas Foundation in Ibiza is currently presenting “El bañista / The Bather” with Rafa Macarrón. It is the Madrid-born artist’s first solo exhibition, on view through July 10 to October 31. 

The exhibition features more than 15 paintings of various compositions by Macarrón. His works explore shape-shifting characters that are full of humility. He creates large-scale, vertical pieces along with bright, horizontal panoramic landscapes that have darker paint palettes. In the latter, Macarrón presents thousands of individual scenes that happen simultaneously within one painting. There is a dominant presence of juxtapositions in all his paintings as the artist explores tensions between overcrowded spaces and solitary figures, and with saturated and monochromatic colors. 

“It is expressionism because it is born from a gesture, but also a new figuration. To create my elongated figures requires knowledge and respect for anatomy. I know the structure of the body perfectly. Then, I begin to try out distortions and deformations, which I think works very well. I am able to create my own characters, each with their own soul and personality,” said Macarrón when defining his work.

Macarrón is the first Spanish artist to exhibit at La Nave Salinas Foundation in Ibiza, as he follows KAWS, Keith Haring, and Kenny Scharf.