Description

From 28th of June to 20th of October of 2019, Vilamuseu holds in one of its rooms an exhibition dedicated and in homage to Felip Baldó (La Vila Joiosa, 1947-Godella, 2007). This painter, illustrator and IES Design Professor developed a great part of his artistic works in Valencia. Now this work will be better known and enjoyed, thanks to the initiative of his birth city’s museum.

The anthological exhibition “Felip Baldó. La mirada transparente” (Felip Baldó. The transparent look), curated by José Piqueras, has been structured in two parts. In the first (“The painter of the asleep goddesses”), a journey is proposed, beginning in his early stages with surprising “Desnudos” (Nakedness) and “Bodegones” (Still-life), result of a pop reinterpretation of this pictorial genres. With the series “Parlament” (Parliament, 1977), consisting in images and portraits of the Spanish Transition to democracy, Baldó places himself in the orbit of the 60’s critical neo-figuration. Those are followed by a very suggestive series, “Interiors” (1983), more intimate and in the limits of abstraction, with subtle glued papers on painted surfaces. On his most complex stages, “Sleeping Goddess” (1996) is a fascinating reflection about the ancient world, the art and the memory, traced through asleep goddesses, imprisoned in coins or fragmented like amphorae and statues after their fall, which now seem to come to life thanks to the closeness of other faces and archaeological fragments in the showcases of the museum. With “Daily Archaeology” (2001) everyday stories and dramas make themselves present (migrated, exiled, drowned people) in a game of metaphors. Through a gallery of anthropomorphic animals, like his “Fish”, he appeals to our solidary and sensitive humanity. This journey is completed thanks to an impressive “Ophelia” and with the series “Sign of emotion” (2004), very emotive works of a very personal nature.

In the second part of the exhibition (“The magical table of the draughtsman”) we explore the facet of Felip Baldó as an author in the school of valencian illustrators. Felip was introduced in this circle in a democratic context of Valencian linguistic and cultural recovery, and he illustrated dozens of children and teen books for three decades. About half a hundred selected originals show us the evolution of his narrative language and of the different graphic resources he used. The illustrations for L’Ullal (The Buttonhole 1983), Al trencall del maror (Where the wave breaks) and Rondalles Valencianes (Valencian Storytelling), which was written by Enric Valor, are the seed of a successful path that led him to El laberint i la lluna (The Labyrinth and the Moon, 2005), which received the Generalitat Valenciana award to the best illustrated book of the year. He also made his debut as text author in Caramuc and El Gised Fantàstic. His designs are like cinema screens of paper for a world of fantasy, adventures, magic and legends, populated by all kind of princesses, imaginary kings, charmed ladies, goblins, rowdy ghosts, crazy sages and unlikely characters and animals dealt with great artistic skill and sympathy. Undoubtedly, Felip documented and completely involved himself with the intention of enriching the story in every one of his designs. And, as he did in his pictorial works, he guided himself by his sensitivity and imagination.

Vilamuseu will offer guided visits to the exhibition every Wednesday at 5 pm without previous reservation, and in other hours if previously reserved.