The opening of a new cultural space in a city is always good news, especially if it is dedicated to an artist like I\u00f1igo Manterola. The master of three-dimensional lines has opened a gallery in the center of San Sebasti\u00e1n, on Calle San Bartolom\u00e9, where he exhibits an exclusive selection of paintings and sculptures.<\/p>\n
Manterola’s career has undergone a very notable progression and evolution in the last decade. Just as was the case for Myron of Eleutherae, capturing movement has been his greatest obsession. He began working figurative art with seascapes and then introduced lines on canvases that represented the movement of fishermen. Little by little, those sinuous lines began to leave the canvas, taking on the form of a sculpture painting at first, only to subsequently give way to sculpture. In the end, the lines completely abandoned the figurative realm to become an entity in and of themselves: powerful sculptures that embody not only Manterola’s kinetic desires but also the deep-rooted Basque seafaring culture.<\/p>\n
In his latest series of work, entitled “Infancia robada” (“Stolen Childhood”), Manterola once again touches upon the sea theme, applying his strokes in a different way. The work makes reference to a personal period of great difficulty that Manterola experienced when he lost part of his childhood due to having to deal with a complex family situation. Thus, the artist places childish lines atop his sea-themed work: lines that represent boats, houses, crabs, fish, and clouds. The contrast between the realism of the landscape and the innocence of the child-like drawings creates mixed feelings within the viewer and, nevertheless, does not distort the discourse followed throughout.<\/p>\n
Another project of great impact recently by the artist was the design of the Real Sociedad de F\u00fatbol shirt. For said design, Manterola applied the same basic principle as in the rest of his works: the three-dimensional nature of the line.<\/p>\n
After an introduction to Manterola’s universe at his new gallery, those who wish to learn more about his art can visit his workshop in Zarautz: a spectacular two-story atelier that houses his painting studio, the workshop where he creates his sculptures, and a large exhibition space.<\/p>\n
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