Lita Cabellut - A Chronicle of the Infinite

A CHRONICLE OF THE INFINITE L i t a C a b e ll u t

L i t a C a b e ll u t

A CHRONICLE OF THE INFINITE

A C H R O N I C L E O F T H E I N F I N ITE

It is with great pleasure that I introduce the work of Lita Cabellut, my Mother and one of today’s most significant artists in the field of human portraiture. Her immense canvases, serve as mirrors that encourage people to exercise empathy and compassion. Her work has inspired many and directly shaped me.

Lita Cabellut’s continuing mission is to explore human emotions, conditions and societal challenges through her own unique language of artistic expression. In today’s seemingly constantly shrinking world, Cabellut’s work provides a crucial contribution, by provoking a dialogue about humanity as a whole. In doing so, she visualises the human spectrum based on a collective humanism as well as a sense of individual relativity.

In the following text, I gladly share further exploration of the philosophy behind Cabellut’s latest series, ‘A Chronicle of the Infinite’, wherein she poetically stresses the intrinsic interconnectivity between opposing existential forces. This series explores the infinite process of human transformation as a consequence of experience and time. In doing so, Cabellut sketches an interpretation of human transformation as a cyclical process, wherein ‘the Self’ is in a state of constant renegotiation.

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Luciano Mateo Rodriguez Carrington, The Hague , 2018

Lita Cabellut’s work is characterized by an extensive oeuvre of portraits that depict human flourishing, suffering, and the perceivable experience of existence upon her characters. The theme of what it is to be ‘human’ is the backbone of Cabellut’s artistic language. The central message of a shared sense of humanity is where I would locate the most significant achievement of Cabellut’s art. It is for this reason that we cannot simply regard her technique as something separate from her conceptual language as an artist, since the manner in which she creates is also the way she thinks and perceives the world.

The new series, ‘A Chronicle of the Infinite’, captures one of Cabellut’s most central of themes; the relationship between creation and decay in the process of human transformation. In this series, she addresses the effects of time and experience whilst simultaneously undergoing the intellectual exercise of taking on new perspectives.

By literally breaking her figurative portraits and by creating an abstraction of the figurative elements of her work.

This series mostly consists of triptychs wherein one of the three pillars is a human portrait; the second one an abstract work based on the figurative painting; and, the last one, the destruction of the portrait. There are also diptychs that indicate variation between two out of the three pillars. As Cabellut states in her own words: “The figurative portrait is the skin, the abstract work are the muscles and the destruction piece symbolizes the skeleton.”

Lita explains that this series is an attempt to obligate her self to be free of established dogmas, present in many figurative images, as the only way to capture human experience, emotion and essence. Breaking and reducing the figurative image thus forces her to take on different perspectives. In her own words, “This is an exercise in resetting myself, by deconstructing, breaking and reconstructing that what I think I already know, in order to get, at least a little closer, to visual liberty.”

This is however an intellectual exercise of her new work, but the process of physically breaking the canvas of a human portrait as well as reducing it to an abstraction, also carries a philosophical message. Namely, that of revealing the effect of time and experience on an individual and addressing the double-sided character of a person’s essence as both a static and dynamic entity.

In ‘A Chronicle of the Infinite’, Cabellut analyzes the interplay between a person’s self-perception, the essence of an individual and the physio-psychological manifestation of experience on a particular human being. She perceives human transformation as a cyclical rather than a linear process, wherein ‘the Self’, essence and experience are in a constant dance of negotiation.

From the three pillars of the figurative, abstract and the broken work in this series, the ‘figurative pillar’ captures the story of a person. With a specific focus on the manner in which a person’s self-representation to the world reinforces one’s positioning in life.

The ‘abstract pillar ’ of the series captures the essence of a person while acknowledging this to be a fractional and constantly changing process. ‘Essence’ is thus understood as simultaneously static, dynamic and subject to the relationship between the individual and the world.

The ‘broken pillar’ of the trilogy does not symbolize destruction as a form of demolition, but rather as the physical and psychological manifestation of life on a person. Here, destruction can best be understood as a form of impermanence, wherein humans are inevitably subject to change by virtue of being exposed to experiences over time.

The ultimate aim of this series is to stress that the relationship between the individual and the world is not uni-directional, in which people are simply subject to the physical and psychological manifestations of experiences. Instead, Lita Cabellut calls for an understanding of human transformation wherein the individual faces external factors through experience as well as internal processes of change, driven by a continuous renegotiation of ‘the Self’.

It is the centrality of the human subject that drives the constant innovation of Cabellut’s intimate expression. Her artistic language addresses humankind in its totality and reminds us how important it is to build bridges between our similarities. However, she calls for this sense of universalism with an essential recognition of the relativity of experience on the level of the individual. The most profound contribution of Lita Cabellut’s work is the invitation to explore who we are as human beings, both individually and collectively.

Luciano Mateo Rodriguez Carrington, The Hague , 2018

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METZTLI A | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 63 x 47.2 x 2.8 in - 160 x 120 x 7 cm

METZTLI B | 2018 mixed media on canvas 63 x 47.2 in - 160 x 120 cm

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ROSETTA 01 | 2018 mixed media on wood panel ø 47.2 in - 120 cm

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ERINOME | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 23.6 x 21.7 x 21.7 in - 60 x 55 x 55 cm

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MESHA | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 35.4 x 78.9 in - 90 x 180 cm

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TORA A | 2018 mixed media on canvas 59.1 x 59.1 in - 150 x 150 cm

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TORA B | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 59.1 x 59.1 x 4.7 in - 150 x 150 x 12 cm

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ANTARES | 2018 mixed media on canvas 70.8 x 70.8 in - 180 x 180 cm

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MAKARA A | 2018 mixed media on canvas 45.2 x 39.4 in - 115 x 100 cm

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MAKARA B | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 45.2 x 39.4 in - 115 x 100 cm

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UMA | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 35.4 x 70.9 in - 90 x 180 cm

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TULÄ A | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 84.6 x 57.1 in - 215 x 145 cm

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TULÄ B | 2018 mixed media on canvas 84.6 x 57.1 in - 215 x 145 cm

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POLYDEUCES B | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 20.1 x 20.1 x 2.8 in - 51 x 51 x 7 cm

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POLYDEUCES A | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 20.1 x 20.1 x 3.1 in - 51 x 51 x 8 cm

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COĂ TL | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel 35.4 x 70.9 in - 90 x 180 cm

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ROSETTA 03 | 2018 mixed media on wood panel ø 24.4 in - 62 cm PLEIADES | 2018 mixed media on canvas 47.2 x 47.2 in - 120 x 120 cm

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MITHUNA | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 35.4 x 70.9 in - 90 x 180 cm

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MANGALA | 2018 mixed media on canvas 35.4 x 23.6 in - 90 x 60 cm

ISONOE | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 16.1 x 16.1 in - 41 x 41 cm

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AKHIR AL - NAHR | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 39.4 x 78.7 x 3.9 in - 100 x 200 x 10 cm

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VRSCIKA | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 35.4 x 70.9 in | 100 x 200 cm

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METAMORPHOSIS | 2018 mixed media on canvas 110.2 x 78.7 in - 280 x 200 cm

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SHUI | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 35.4 x 70.9 in - 90 x 180 cm

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KANYA | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Diptych: 59.1 x 78.7 in - 150 x 200 cm

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TATSU | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 39.4 x 78.7 x 3.9 in - 100 x 200 x 10 cm

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GRAFFIAS | 2018 mixed media on canvas 47.2 x 47.2 in - 120 x 120 cm

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BELLATRIX | 2018 mixed media on canvas 47.2 x 47.2 in - 120 x 120 cm

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ROSETTA 03 | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel ø 32.3 in - 82 cm

NORMAN | 2017 mixed media on canvas 84.6 x 57.1 in - 215 x 145 cm

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KYANEOS | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 39.4 x 78.7 x 3.9 in - 100 x 200 x 10 cm

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MATAARIKI | 2018 mixed media on wood panel ø 12.6 in - 32 cm MATAHUA | 2018 mixed media on wood panel ø 12.6 in - 32 cm

KHUSETI | 2018 mixed media on wood panel ø 24.4 in - 62 cm

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MÚ | 2018 mixed media on canvas and wood panel Triptych: 35.4 x 70.9 in - 90 x 180 cm

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ALSAFI | 2018 mixed media on canvas 84.6 x 57.1 in - 215 x 145 cm

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SHANI | 2018 mixed media on canvas and on wood panel 35.4 x 23.6 in - 90 x 60 cm BRACHIUM | 2018 mixed media on canvas 84.6 x 57.1 in - 215 x 145 cm

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PRITHVI | 2018 mixed media on canvas 84.6 x 57 in - 215 x 145 cm

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PANDORA A | 2018 mixed media on canvas 31.5 x 31.5 in - 80 x 80 cm

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PANDORA B | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 31.5 x 31.5 in - 80 x 80 cm

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JIN A | 2018 mixed media on canvas and on wood panel 35.4 x 23.6 in - 90 x 60 cm

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JIN B | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 35.4 x 23.6 x 2.8 in - 90 x 60 x 7 cm

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QUIĂ HUITL A | 2018 mixed media on canvas and on wood panel 35.4 x 23.6 in - 90 x 60 cm

BRISHASPATI | 2018 mixed media on canvas and on wood panel 35.4 x 23.6 in - 90 x 60 cm

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MÁZATL B | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 72.8 x 57.1 x 2.7 in - 185 x 145 x 7 cm

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MÁZATL A | 2018 mixed media on canvas 72.8 x 57.1 x 2.7 in - 185 x 145 x 7 cm

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ROSETTA 04 | 2018 mixed media on wood panel ø 24.4 in - 62 cm CELAENO | 2018 mixed media on canvas 47.2 x 47.2 in - 120 x 120 cm

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SHUKRA | 2018 mixed media on canvas 63 x 47.2 in - 160 x 120 cm TETHYS | 2018 mixed media on wood panel 23.6 x19.7 x 3.9 in - 60 x 50 x 10 cm

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DJIIN | 2018 mixed media on canvas and on wood panel 76 x 52.4 x 3.9 in - 193 x133 x 10 cm

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YMIR COMPOSITION | 2018 mixed media on canvas andw on wood panel 76 x 52.4 x 3.9 in - 193 x133 x 10 cm

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LEDA | 2018 mixed media on canvas 59.1 x 39.4 in - 150 x 100 cm AL- AQRAB | 2018 mixed media on canvas 98.4 x 78.7 in - 250 x 200 cm

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THE SHADOW OF THE MORNING LIGHT | 2015 Flowers installation 55.1 x 39.4 x 43.3 in - 140 x 100 x 110 cm

GENTLENESS | 2016 Flowers installation 27.6 x 11.8 x 15.7 in - 70 x 30 x 40 cm

INSTALLATION: IS IT POSSIBLE | 2015 Flowers installation 37.4 x 14.6 x 14.6 in - 95 x 37 x 37 cm

L i t a C a b e ll u t

L i t a C a b e ll u t Museum Exhibitions (selection)

Gallery Exhibitions (selection)

2019

2018

Solo Exhibition | Goya Museum | Zaragoza | Spain 2018

Lita Cabellut (b. 1961, Sariñena, Aragon) is a Spanish painter who lives and works in The Netherlands. She grew up as a street child in Barcelona until she was adopted at the age of twelve. During this time she was introduced to the Spanish masters at the Prado Museum, after which she immediately devoted her passion to art. Lita Cabellut had her first exhibition at the age of 17 and moved to The Netherlands at the age of 19, where she studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam.

Over the years, Cabellut has developed a unique technique characterized by large-scale canvases that combine traditional fresco techniques and modern applications of oil paint. The craquelures and defining palette gives a skin and life to her portraits of street dwellers, prostitutes, religious people, historical figures, fictional characters and influential people.

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The central theme of the human and the societal messages that Lita Cabellut communicates in her work is primarily expressed through paintings. However, beyond her defining monumental portraits, Cabellut is also a multi-disciplinary artist whose works includes film, poetry, drawings, installations and sculptures.

The Rossini Project | Documentationcentre German Sinti en Roma | Berlin | Germany A Chronicle of the infinite | Museum Jan van der Togt| Amstelveen | The Netherlands MASTERLY The Hague | Hoogsteder & Hoogsteder | The Hague | The Netherlands Charlie Chaplin - A Vision | YUZ Museum Shanghai | China Testimonio | Centro Cultural Cascais| Cascais | Portugal Mujeres Artistas Hoy | Museo Europeo d’Art Modern | Barcelona | Spain 2017-2018

Testimonio | Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Gas Natural Fenos | A Coruña | Spain Retrospective | Espais Volart - Fundació Vila Casas | Barcelona | Spain

A Chronicle of the infinite | Opera Gallery | NY | USA (solo show) 2017

Army of Poets | Opera Gallery | Paris | France | Hong Kong | China (solo show) 2016

Fairy Flowers | Opera Gallery | Beirut | Lebanon (solo show) Colour of Dew | Opera Gallery | Dubai | Dubai (solo show) One Artist | Art Karlsruhe | Galerie Günther Zulauf | Karlsruhe | Germany (solo show) 2015

Impulse | Opera Gallery | London | UK (solo show) 2014

2015-2016

The Figure in Process: de Kooning to Kapoor, 1955-2015 | Pivot Centre for Art + Culture | Seattle | USA

Black Tulip: The Golden Age | Opera Gallery | Paris | France (solo show) Starcatcher | Opera Gallery | Seoul | South Korea

2015

2013

Disturbance | Museum Jan van der Togt | Amstelveen | The Netherlands Black Tulip: The Golden Age | Lalit Kala A kademi | New Delhi | India Trilogy of Truth | MEAM Museu Europeu d’Art Modern | Barcelona| Spain Blind Mirror | Hälsinglands Museum | Hudiksvall | Sweden Trilogy of Doubt | Mac’S Museo Arte Contemporanea | Catania | Italy Black Tulip: The Golden Age | CSMVS (former Prince of Wales Museum) | Mumbai | India 2014

Black Tulip: The Golden Age | State Visit Okura Hotel | Tokyo | Japan 100 Masterpieces | Seoul Art Centre | Seoul | South Korea Here to Stay | Kunststation Kleinsassen | Berlin | Germany 2013

Trilogy of Doubt | Het Noordbrabants Museum | Bolduque | The Netherlands Trilogy of Doubt | Fundació Vila Casas | Barcelona | Spain Me, you and Others | The Finnish Labour Museum | Werstas | Finland Stage, costume & video 2019

Karl V, Bayerische Staatsopera | Munich | Germany 2017

Le Siège de Corinthe, Rossini opera Festival | Pesaro | Italy

Hidden Dreams | The Moscow World Fine Art Fair | Opera Gallery | Moscow | Russia Dried Tear | Opera Gallery | Singapore | Singapore (solo show) Behind the Curtains | Opera Gallery | Hong Kong | China (solo show) 2012

After the Show | Galerie Terminus, Munich | Germany (solo show) Portrait of Human knowledge | Opera Gallery | London | UK (solo show) Memories Wrapped in Gold Paper | Opera Gallery | Dubai | Dubai (solo show) 2011

Coco: The Testimony of Black and White | Opera Gallery | Paris | France (solo show) Camarón | Galerie Kai Dikhas | Berlin | Germany (solo show) La Perla Negra | Opera Gallery | London | UK (solo show) 2010

Madness and Reason | Bill Lowe Gallery | Atlanta | USA (solo show) One Man Show | Galerie Günther Zulauf | Karlsruhe | Germany (solo show)

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Published by Opera Gallery to coincide with exhibition Lita Cabellut - A Chronicle of the Infinite in New York 12 - 26 December 2018.

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