James Selway describes life & art in Spain.
As a Welsh artist, based in the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia, I recognise certain similarities to life in my homeland. Situated near the small, picturesque town of Castellar del Valles means that I am surrounded by pine forests, sturdy mountains and a coast just a stone’s throw away. The town accommodates the lofty Church of Sant Esteve which is positioned proudly above a tumbling hill covered with a patchwork of fertile allotments. Beyond, the region continues to be alluring and diverse, reaching from the towering Pyrenees to the bays and beaches of the coast. Centrally are the vine covered slopes of the Penedes region, the home of Cava and other respected wines. The tilting fields have been cared for by generations of wine growers and the colours are of earth and nature. Thus, the region offers an enticing taste and fragrance for the wine glass and a wealth of rich tones for an artist´s pallet.
The Catalans, like the Welsh, have their own particular traditions and language. Many feel little affiliation to the rest of Spain but all have an unreserved pride in their city of Barcelona. It is a city of revolution, both artistically and historically. It was where George Orwell arrived in 1936 stating “I´ve come to fight against fascism” and it is believed his experiences in Catalonia and Spain influenced his most famous books “Animal Farm” and “1984”. Barcelona is a city full of spirit, experiment and progress which manages to comfortably blend the traditional with the ultramodern. It is proud of its artistic inheritance and justifiably boasts of its Catalan artists such as Gaudi, Miro, Gris, Tapies and Dali along with those others who spent time there such as Picasso.
Spain´s artists traditionally seem compelled to break away from conventional artistic pathways. Many were pioneers and individualistic. Consider the artists mentioned earlier. Their daring approach encourages a certain audaciousness in one’s own work. Their determination not to limit themselves to one particular artistic strand also motivates diversity in one’s own painting. Barcelona´s geographical position means that visits to the Pyrenees, the rest of Spain, France, Italy and Morocco can be taken with reasonable ease. Therefore, there are many venues near by, capable of offering stimulation for the artist. The culture and flavour of such localities are guaranteed to influence an artist. They were, and remain, locations of inspiration for painters, including myself.
With such material available it is unnecessary to limit oneself to a particular subject area as a basis for work. My paintings might include the rich, abundant landscapes of the Mediterranean or appealing corners of ancient cities, characters of the rugged countryside or the youthful and energetic figures of an urban metropolis. All have appeal. One critic described my work as “exploring the area between reality and the abstract” and perhaps, at times, this is a fair definition. The Spanish practice of unrestricted creativity has obviously encouraged me not to confine myself to barriers. However, I like to begin with a definite subject from which the painting develops. Francis Bacon said “One always starts work with the subject, no matter how tenuous it is”.
There are few moments as exciting as having a fresh, blank canvas which seductively implores the artist to perform a transfiguration of imagery. I have a great affection for oil paint. It allows an intensity and iridescence of colour which is difficult to achieve with other paint forms. I also use acrylic when the occasion requires. The important point is to apply whichever medium suits the moment and achieves the desired result.
Soon after my arrival in Spain, I was enthusiastically offered exhibiting opportunities in several highly reputable galleries, including the Academia de Belles Arts where I show regularly. I have exhibited mostly in Spain, and at times in the UK, although collectors of my work extend to Europe, the USA and Australia.
Mainland Europe has many attractions. Nevertheless I am a Welshman and therefore quite frequently have my Robert Browning “Home Thoughts from Abroad” moments. Of course Browning’s yearning for England has to be substituted for Wales. I was born in the small, mining village of Tonmawr near Neath and having Welsh heritage it might have been anticipated that I should have a passion for some aspect of the arts. I studied at Swansea College of Art in the sixties and became a Head of a thriving Art Department and Deputy Headmaster at a London Secondary School. Eventually, on leaving teaching, I moved to Norfolk and became a partner in several businesses. However, I continued to paint. The most exceptional, and possibly unexpected, relocation was in 2001 when I moved to live in Catalonia.
The phrase “Let the mountain come to Mohammad” comes to mind when in October 2005 the Pelenna Male Voice Choir, from my Welsh home village, visited Catalonia. Warm and valued characters from my childhood were included in the choir party which numbered nearly sixty. The project was a great cultural exchange and the ´brotherhood´ between the Catalans and the Welsh was obviously demonstrated. Much in the history of both peoples provides a natural affiliation. Catalonia suffered greatly during the Franco regime when its language was stamped upon and its individualism the source of much animosity. The highlight of the trip was when the choir found itself at the mountain Monastery of Montserrat, a place of pilgrimage for visitors from throughout the world. Here the singers were given the ultimate accolade of becoming the first Welsh choir ever to perform at the Montserrat Basilica.
As for taking “Mohammad” to the mountain, tentative plans are underway which could lead to a collection of my work exhibited in Wales in the near future. One possibility is a joint exhibition with Aneurin Jones, with whom I have family connections. The family bond would bring together Aneurin´s images from the heart of Wales with my impressions from my time in Catalonia and beyond. Such an exhibition could demonstrate the work of two artists who began at similar starting points but travelled different routes producing contrasting results. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that the branches separated and stretched, even as far afield as Catalonia, the roots solidly remained within the family and unfailingly within Wales itself.
The Catalans, like the Welsh, have their own particular traditions and language. Many feel little affiliation to the rest of Spain but all have an unreserved pride in their city of Barcelona. It is a city of revolution, both artistically and historically. It was where George Orwell arrived in 1936 stating “I´ve come to fight against fascism” and it is believed his experiences in Catalonia and Spain influenced his most famous books “Animal Farm” and “1984”. Barcelona is a city full of spirit, experiment and progress which manages to comfortably blend the traditional with the ultramodern. It is proud of its artistic inheritance and justifiably boasts of its Catalan artists such as Gaudi, Miro, Gris, Tapies and Dali along with those others who spent time there such as Picasso.
Spain´s artists traditionally seem compelled to break away from conventional artistic pathways. Many were pioneers and individualistic. Consider the artists mentioned earlier. Their daring approach encourages a certain audaciousness in one’s own work. Their determination not to limit themselves to one particular artistic strand also motivates diversity in one’s own painting. Barcelona´s geographical position means that visits to the Pyrenees, the rest of Spain, France, Italy and Morocco can be taken with reasonable ease. Therefore, there are many venues near by, capable of offering stimulation for the artist. The culture and flavour of such localities are guaranteed to influence an artist. They were, and remain, locations of inspiration for painters, including myself.
With such material available it is unnecessary to limit oneself to a particular subject area as a basis for work. My paintings might include the rich, abundant landscapes of the Mediterranean or appealing corners of ancient cities, characters of the rugged countryside or the youthful and energetic figures of an urban metropolis. All have appeal. One critic described my work as “exploring the area between reality and the abstract” and perhaps, at times, this is a fair definition. The Spanish practice of unrestricted creativity has obviously encouraged me not to confine myself to barriers. However, I like to begin with a definite subject from which the painting develops. Francis Bacon said “One always starts work with the subject, no matter how tenuous it is”.
There are few moments as exciting as having a fresh, blank canvas which seductively implores the artist to perform a transfiguration of imagery. I have a great affection for oil paint. It allows an intensity and iridescence of colour which is difficult to achieve with other paint forms. I also use acrylic when the occasion requires. The important point is to apply whichever medium suits the moment and achieves the desired result.
Soon after my arrival in Spain, I was enthusiastically offered exhibiting opportunities in several highly reputable galleries, including the Academia de Belles Arts where I show regularly. I have exhibited mostly in Spain, and at times in the UK, although collectors of my work extend to Europe, the USA and Australia.
Mainland Europe has many attractions. Nevertheless I am a Welshman and therefore quite frequently have my Robert Browning “Home Thoughts from Abroad” moments. Of course Browning’s yearning for England has to be substituted for Wales. I was born in the small, mining village of Tonmawr near Neath and having Welsh heritage it might have been anticipated that I should have a passion for some aspect of the arts. I studied at Swansea College of Art in the sixties and became a Head of a thriving Art Department and Deputy Headmaster at a London Secondary School. Eventually, on leaving teaching, I moved to Norfolk and became a partner in several businesses. However, I continued to paint. The most exceptional, and possibly unexpected, relocation was in 2001 when I moved to live in Catalonia.
The phrase “Let the mountain come to Mohammad” comes to mind when in October 2005 the Pelenna Male Voice Choir, from my Welsh home village, visited Catalonia. Warm and valued characters from my childhood were included in the choir party which numbered nearly sixty. The project was a great cultural exchange and the ´brotherhood´ between the Catalans and the Welsh was obviously demonstrated. Much in the history of both peoples provides a natural affiliation. Catalonia suffered greatly during the Franco regime when its language was stamped upon and its individualism the source of much animosity. The highlight of the trip was when the choir found itself at the mountain Monastery of Montserrat, a place of pilgrimage for visitors from throughout the world. Here the singers were given the ultimate accolade of becoming the first Welsh choir ever to perform at the Montserrat Basilica.
As for taking “Mohammad” to the mountain, tentative plans are underway which could lead to a collection of my work exhibited in Wales in the near future. One possibility is a joint exhibition with Aneurin Jones, with whom I have family connections. The family bond would bring together Aneurin´s images from the heart of Wales with my impressions from my time in Catalonia and beyond. Such an exhibition could demonstrate the work of two artists who began at similar starting points but travelled different routes producing contrasting results. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that the branches separated and stretched, even as far afield as Catalonia, the roots solidly remained within the family and unfailingly within Wales itself.