The Spanish artist Rafa Macarrón displays anatomical figures with their stretched forms and extended proportions. The paintings are full of representations, which are peculiarly scaled. Macarrón’s visual language of human condition is based on reality, yet in a surreal way.
Distorted shapes challenge perceptions of what is considered normal and question beauty ideals and body representation. Macarrón’s understanding of the human form is detailed and measured. From the knowledge of anatomy and bodily mechanics, Macarrón creates a versatile revelation of themes. The exaggerated silhouettes inhabit imaginative spaces and present a narrative, that still carries the truth. The paintings also depict elaborate fashion, such as seemingly designer handbags and clothes.
The artist’s recurring lines and shapes are carefully constructed. The works contain elements of intensity and surprise and Macarrón’s recognizable expressiveness is unfolding a world of unique vision. The entity becomes a scene of anatomical reflections. None of the figures are conventional, but all are captivating. The compositions of the works are rich and carefully considered; the artist gives each figure their own meaning. Together, these works create a world that is at once surreal and intimate, where transformations clarify vulnerability and emotion, and imagination serves a method for understanding what it means to be human. Balancing sensitivity with a subtle sense of unease, Macarrón's practice invites sustained contemplation, resulting in works that are both visually arresting and emotionally resonant, while containing subtle social commentary and psychological insight.
Rafa Macarrón’s works have been exhibited at e.g. CAC, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Alicante, Museo DA2, Salamanca and Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Elche, in Spain, and Universidad de Puebla, Mexico. Macarrón’s works are in the collections of Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, New York, Fundación BMW, Spain, and Fundación Vivanco, La Rioja, among others. He has been awarded ARCOmadrid Best Artist in 2013.
