20 July, 2017 – January, 2018 Room Philip West. First Floor
The Places of Philip West arose from a reflection on the place and beings that inhabit Philip West's work, by means of artworks made in different formats and media. The works selected for this exhibition are just a small part of the extensive collection that the artist donated to the Eugenio Granell Foundation in 1997.
The figure of Philp West (York, England, 1949 – Zaragoza, 1997) represents a revival and revision of surrealism, at a time when it was leaning towards other artistic expressions (Pop, Minimal, Povera, etc). West is considered the creator of a new trend, "Fantastic Surrealism," a world that features influences by artists such as Buñuel, Magritte, De Chirico, Ernst or Tanguy, among others.
Philip West discovered in surrealism the ideal artistic and literary atmosphere for an enquiring spirit that was always seeking stimulation. His interest in the mysterious, magic, ornithology… is reflected by the meaning of his work, as is his stay in Venezuela, whose flora and fauna aroused a fascination that would forever accompany him and his work.
In this way, the depiction of animals and landscapes became a constant feature therein: animals, metamorphic figures, lakes, beaches, rivers, forests and even urban layouts constitute the leitmotiv of an artistic output that brings the spectator into contact with the significant places in the life and work of West.
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INFORMATION ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF PHILIP TAKEN FROM: Garrido Moreno, A. (2006), "Philip West: a tribute to freedom, love and poetry" in Philip West. The Legacy of an Artist, Eugenio Granell Foundation. Santiago de Compostela.