11 - EUGENIO SIMÓ (Valencia, 1972).

EUGENIO SIMÓ (Valencia, 1972). Untitled. Acrylic, metallic vinyl appliqués, and rivets on canvas mounted on board. Measurements: 81 x 81 Eugenio Simó reinterprets Bibendum, the famous Michelin character, against a dynamic background of light and dark green stripes. The figure appears to be moving toward the viewer while holding a sword from the Spanish playing card deck, introducing an unexpected element from popular culture that accentuates the composition’s playful and enigmatic character. The work connects with pop art aesthetics through its appropriation of a recognizable icon of mass culture, its graphic language, and the use of an image reminiscent of the world of advertising. Simó thus transforms an everyday character into an ambiguous scene brimming with humor, where popular culture, tradition, and the contemporary imagination converge. A visual artist and graphic designer, Simó studied at the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Valencia and at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia. His work combines painting, collage, illustration, and techniques typical of graphic design, with a critical eye toward visual culture and contemporary society. Since 1993, he has built an extensive exhibition and professional career, which has also involved collaborations with cultural institutions, museums, and graphic identity projects. In 2023, he presented *Fake Gate* at the Espai Metropolità d’Art in Torrent, an exhibition that brought together three decades of his artistic work.