The passion for art and the imperative need to express his feelings in a plastic way led Xavi Carbonell (Alcoi, 1971) to enter the world of painting more than two decades ago. His influences come not only from established artists such as Basquiat, Cy Twombly, Saura and other representatives of Abstract Expressionism, but also from the spontaneous scribbles of the little ones. His interest in children's art is manifested both from a formal point of view—where the iconographic elements outline strokes that seem to have emerged from the hand of a child—and in the choice of themes. Through his works, he invites us to immerse ourselves in his particular universe, a space where, almost without realizing it, we end up looking for our own connection. His creations can be seen in different galleries in New York—where he regularly works—as well as in China and, now, in Barcelona. In addition, he participates in numerous national and international art fairs.
One of the distinguishing features of his work is his vibrant and luminous color palette. At the beginning of his career, dark tones such as black, gray and brown predominated. Gradually, however, he has incorporated brighter colors, such as red and pink, until reaching the current splashes of fluorescent tones that characterize his most recent pieces.
'Untitled', Xavi Carbonell
However, the color in his work is not associated with any mood. According to Xavi Carbonell, each work suggests a different color to him. He uses black, brown, red or pink without any prior connotation. “When I am painting a work of art I do not think about the color; it is not that I see it in black and white, but it is when I get to resolve the canvas that it really emerges,” says the artist.
In the works that make up the exhibition, which can be seen in Barcelona until March 28, there are two clear influences: American abstract expressionism and children's art. Painting like a child means being able to disconnect and return to that childlike innocence that, over time, we lose. "I don't just paint what I see, but what I feel", explains Xavi Carbonell about his creative process. Delving into his works, we find an infinity of characters with colorful hair and big eyes. They are fantastic beings fruit of the imagination or real characters interpreted in a personal way. A multitude of figures that overlap and crowd together on the same canvas, as if each work were its own universe, where, at the same time, we could discover ourselves.
The exhibition features some works on canvas, but the majority of the works are on paper, hence the name of the exhibition. In these works on paper, the drawings are concentrated and the white space takes on essential importance, with the balance between both elements being key to its message.
'Untitled', Xavi Carbonell
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