207 - TERÁN (Chile, 1974).

TERÁN (Chile, 1974). “Tribute to Banksy.” Tribute to the Geniuses series, 2026. Oil on canvas. Signed on the side. Signed, dated, and titled on the back. Measurements: 60 x 60 cm. Few images from Banksy’s body of work so clearly encapsulate his unique blend of irony, dark humor, and social criticism as “Monkey Detonator,” also known as “Monkey Bomb.” Drawing from this visual universe, Terán develops his “Tribute to Banksy,” transferring to canvas an image conceived through the language of urban art. The choice of painting as a medium introduces a new material dimension and allows the viewer to contemplate the motif from a perspective different from that of its original context. Terán’s “Tribute to the Geniuses” series is built precisely on this idea of a dialogue between artists from different eras. As the exhibition catalog notes, Terán proposes a return to painting as a symbolic strategy, creating works that evoke admired artists without resorting to mere copying or pastiche. His interest lies not in reproducing the styles of others, but in establishing connections with those artists who have shaped his artistic training and sensibility. With a degree in Fine Arts and a resident of Spain for decades, Manuel Terán has developed an international career characterized by artistic experimentation and a constant dialogue with the major figures of modernism. From his first exhibitions in Chile in the 1990s to his most recent projects in Europe, his work has moved between figuration, the reinterpretation of historical images, and reflection on the very act of painting.