The exhibition, open to the public from October 8th to December 13th, is a family initiative led by Sculpture Professor Almudena Armenta Deu, who has spent three years cataloging the artist's over 1,470 works. Alongside her sons Mateo Ray and Mauricio Fernández Armenta, they have curated this show aimed at preserving and disseminating the legacy of Fernández Arias, who passed away suddenly in Madrid in 2023.
César Fernández Arias (Caracas, 1952 - Madrid, 2023) is described as one of the most unique creators of contemporary Spanish art. His work spanned sculpture, painting, drawing, illustration, and design, building a personal universe marked by experimentation, humor, and play. The exhibition traces his career from the 1980s to his latest creations, highlighting his constant interest in the "dog world" and his vision of dogs as unconditional companions.
The curator emphasizes the influence of pedagogy on Fernández Arias's work, as he always championed creative freedom and the childlike spirit in art. His education at the Colegio Estudio, a proponent of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, shaped his commitment to accessible and creative education. The exhibition also reflects his connection to Madrid's Movida scene, his artistic friendships, and his transition to sculpture after a workshop with Tony Cragg in the 1990s.
Special attention is given to his drawings and illustrations, often integrated into his sculptures with messages and onomatopoeias. The exhibition also pays tribute to his relationships with publishers and poets, such as Ángel Guache, Raúl Eguizabal, and Juan Manuel Bonet, and publishers like El Duplex and Papeles Mínimos, reflecting the diversity of his artistic and editorial output.
“"Having captured the authenticity of a highly committed artist who did not seek fame, perhaps because he did not engage in the markets, in those games one often enters to succeed, but who managed to maintain his purity."
The selection of the 270 exhibited works was an arduous process to represent the artist's essence without overwhelming the space. The exhibition aims for visitors to discover César Fernández Arias as a creator committed to freedom of expression and authenticity.
