Spanish-Dutch artist Luis Penín (born 1968) sometimes works for years on seemingly simple paintings. A few quick black lines, a few sketchy shapes on a white surface—nothing more. Penín is concerned with content and expressiveness. "My weapon" is written on his violin case. "Art is a weapon against the worst qualities of humanity," says Luis Penín. He has ambitious views on art. "A good painting isn't good enough; it's only finished when I fully recognize the original idea in it." To reach that point, Penín works for months, sometimes years, on the same painting. Whole stacks of them line the walls of his studio on the grounds of the former St. Anna psychiatric hospital in Venray. From time to time, he takes them out, reassesses them, and applies new layers, up to a hundred times. The result isn't more complex, but rather more understated. Penín reduces his motifs to the bare essentials, almost literally, as often only the structure of a house, a human figure, or a vase of flowers remains. W50
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsMulti ColorMaterialPaperNumber of items1StyleModernOrientationPortraitArt sizeMediumHeight89 cmWidth72 cm