Mateo Cabrera: The communion of kingdoms

On Wednesday, April 10, the seventh individual exhibition of Mateo Cabrera (Lima, 1982) opens at La Galería (Conde de la Monclova 255 – San Isidro). The exhibition is made up of 9 recent medium and large format works in oil on canvas and a set of small format works worked in mixed media.

Mateo Cabrera has been characterized by working free compositions in which figuration and poetry go hand in hand, articulating stories full of humor and fantasy; For this one he shows part of real characters that he includes in magical scenarios in which a narrative close to the wonderful reality runs, with a plastic discourse in -almost- photographically captured.

Luis Lama considers that in this work, in addition to literature, reverberations of painters such as Herman Braun and Carlos Revilla can be found, but they are an echo more typical of the young artist’s generation.

Cabrera has studied at Corriente Alterna (2004 – 2005) and at the University of the Arts; Lavender Hill Studios and Princess Drawing School, (London, 2005 – 2007). She has led several workshops in Europe. Since 2019 she has been doing her individual work at La Galería.

Exclusively for FACESMateo Cabrera declares about his work:

“I believe in art as a mystical tool, which through the senses is capable of bringing us to a moment of contemplative bliss. I believe in the amazement that a work of art awakens in us.

Although my painting can be understood as a story, and symbolic meaning can be sought for it and from there multiple readings can be unfolded, its main intention is to try to leave the observer speechless, faced with his own silence, which is the mystery of life.

In my new exhibition, “The Communion of Kingdoms”, at La Galería, each painting hides a story of multiple interpretations. I try to leave it open so that the viewer can unravel its content. I try to guide the imagination with poetic resources, but giving enough freedom to keep them in the quicksand of uncertainty.

In my work there are many references to art history, a mixture of dissociated images, because there is a manipulation of time and space to create eclectic images and impossible situations. There is a leading presence of nature and its kingdoms dominating the scenes and coexisting with humans in paradigms of impossible aspects.

My technique is oil on linen. The same one that has accompanied the painter’s profession for centuries. The one who, with pigments taken from the earth, helped by tools made with animal hair, gives life to new realities. Therefore, as an artist, my interest is to prioritize the most essential powers of nature.

I accept that my work could be considered an expression of magical realism, due to the influence of literature on my painting. It is possible that some of that spirit is hidden in my work.”

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