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The painter Guillermo Mora has been awarded the XI Salou Prize for Pictorial Research
The work has been recognized by the jury "for its capacity for reflection and for the innovative use of contemporary pictorial languages."
The Madrid artist, recognized for his constant research on the limits of painting and pictorial space, has managed to seduce the jury with a proposal that combines material experimentation and conceptual reflection. The competition, convened by the Salou City Council, seeks to promote research in the field of visual arts and consolidate itself as a reference in the promotion of contemporary creation.
With Yes, but Not , Guillermo Mora reaffirms his interest in questioning the conventions of pictorial language and opening new paths in the dialogue between painting, object and space. The work has won first prize in this eleventh edition of the competition, recognized by the jury “for its capacity for reflection and for the innovative use of contemporary pictorial languages”.
The first runner-up prize went to Gordas Jersey Loch, by Svantje Busshof; while the second runner-up prize went to Bosc Negre Fum , by Àlvar Calvet. The honorable mentions went to Habitant del silenci , by Anna Elisabeth Salova, and Voûte 1. Cerca 1 , by Alain Chardon.
Among the members of the jury, Ninfa Bisbe, head of the art collections at the “la Caixa” Foundation, highlighted “the honour and responsibility of being part of this award, which demonstrates, once again, the vitality and strength of painting”. Bisbe stressed that “despite the fact that it has often been claimed to be dead, painting has not disappeared with technology or artificial intelligence; on the contrary, it remains alive, vibrant and in constant transformation, as evidenced by the works in this edition”.
The art critic also highlighted the quality of the debate between the jury members and the difficulty of the final decision, given “the very high level of the proposals presented”, and celebrated “the wealth of perspectives and languages that coexist in this edition of the award”.
Salou as the epicenter of art
The curator of the competition, Raquel Medina, recalled with emotion the origins of the award, promoted a quarter of a century ago by the then Councilor for Culture Pere Granados, "when we didn't have white hair yet", and thanks to the enthusiasm of the businessman from Salou José Luis Rubio and the former Culture technician Josep Maria Guinovart.
Medina explained that "the pandemic interrupted a successful trajectory, but thanks to Salou's Cultural Capital, the time has come to resume it with more strength than ever."
As he indicated, this year there has been "a very high and exceptional level of participation, with artists of various nationalities, which has very positively surprised the members of the jury."
The curator defined Salou as a living showcase of contemporary art, of the plurality of trends and of innovation in a medium as old as painting.
