"The main thing is to reinforce the obligation to manifest ourselves as we are," says Antonio López.
"The main thing is to reinforce the obligation to manifest ourselves as we are," says Antonio López.
The artist has shown to the Regional Government Minister of Education the work of the 33 students participating in the Painting Workshop.
The painter Antonio López has stated at the University of Navarra that his main mission statement in the Painting Workshop he is teaching these days at campus is to transmit "the obligation to show ourselves as we are". The award Príncipe de Viana 2012 considers that his role is focused on helping artists to discover themselves: "They can do whatever they want, but one of the most important things is to observe well, not to turn it into a mechanical act. Haste makes us lose our nerve," he told the media.
visit The 'Painting Workshop: masters of figuration', which the artist teaches every year at the School of Architecture of the academic center, was attended by the counselor of Education of the Government of Navarra, José Iribas. Also present were the painters José María Mezquita, Juan José Aquerreta and Julio Vaquero, who are collaborating with the workshop in this edition.
The four have accompanied the politician in a visit in which they have shown the way of working of the students, who focus on genres of figurative tradition, such as still life, the human figure with natural models and landscapes. Lopez has highlighted the quality and variety of work of the 33 artists, selected from a total of 110 applicants registered.
The also award Prince of Asturias and honorary doctor for the University of Navarra was very happy to repeat the experience of previous years: "Spending these days with some well-known students and others who are not is a party, something wonderful. I like it very much because it gives me strength to continue working alone," he said.
Great' brushstrokes
The artist insisted that the workshop"does not start from a preconceived program, like that of the programs of study of a School. Everyone can come here, with different ages and experiences. Some come with clearer ideas and others have to discover them. Although we have very little time, everyone has something to tell. Maybe not all of us are painting, but we all have to express it in some way," he stressed.
In his opinion, "there are many places where painting is taught, but there is a lot of confusion, we are very lost. That's why these subject initiatives are good for us. We are painters who keep each other company, and many times we create a deep bond, essentially, through work". Antonio Lopez acknowledged that every year he finds "some great brushstroke, and often the authors do not know it, but they have discovered something true".
The way to reach that artistic truth is "to learn to follow a way of working in the primordial, but it is very difficult," he said. "You have to stop, meditate, see and rest from another way of painting. In that sense, painting is a form of purification, because it requires contemplating the real world in the cleanest way."
For his part, Councilor José Iribas thanked Antonio López, José María Mezquita, Juan José Aquerreta and Julio Vaquero "for bringing out the best in the students, since it will be something that the whole of society will enjoy".
The Workshop sessions are directed by Inmaculada Jiménez Caballero, professor of Architecture, and organized by the area of Cultural Activities Office of the academic center. The program is also part of the XII edition of the Summer Courses of the Universities of Navarre.