Young Spanish painter, Julio Anaya Cabanding has been getting a lot of media attention lately with his masterful and intriguing public interventions. Extending his studio practice into the urban space, the artist has been painting meticulous replicas of the renowned classic masterpieces, creating puzzling settings which challenge notions about the relationship with fine art.
The groundbreaking concept that the Malaga-based artist developed over the last 2 years was born accidentally when he decided to join a good friend, Imon Boy, on one a graffiti mission. Since Cabanding wasn't into graffiti himself, he decided to experiment with the same type of imagery he was working on at his studio—painting replicas of Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionism, and other classical art.
By meticulously rendering the original image (along with the frame) and any light or shadow effects, he managed to virtually display priceless masterpieces inside abandoned buildings, on the walls of the local harbor, playgrounds, and other places around town. By "taking" the work outside museums and "displaying" them in unexpected locations, he unintentionally made a strong statement about democratizing the elitist nature of the institutionalized art. Challenged by different materials, weather, scale, and other unexpecting conditions of public space, Cabanding's kept both improving his technique and producing an impressive oeuvre of captivating interventions.
He recently brought this concept back inside his studio, and is currently developing a body of work on found materials. Using old boxes and packaging, he is painting these immaculate replicas, once again questioning the notions about the value and placement of such work. These will be presented in his upcoming debut solo exhibitions and we'll be seeing him taking part in renowned street art festivals later in 2019. —Sasha Bogojev
