52 - JUAN CÁRDENAS

JUAN CÁRDENAS Colombia, 1939–2024 [Interior with Mirrors], [1980s–1990s] Oil on canvas 59.5 x 100 cm Signed “Juan Cárdenas” in the lower right corner. Juan Cárdenas Arroyo was one of the most prominent Colombian painters of his generation, recognized for his mastery of drawing, his meticulous technique, and a figurative body of work in which rigorous observation of reality coexists with a constant exploration of its illusory possibilities. Awarded the National Painting Prize in 1974 for his self-portraits, he found in his own image and in the intimate space of his studio two privileged subjects through which to explore the nature of representation. In these self-portraits, the studio transcends its everyday function to become a setting for reflection on painting and the very act of creation. Amid easels, models, tools, and mirrors, Cárdenas constructs compositions that appear rigorously realistic yet conceal complex interplays of perspective and geometry. Multiplied reflections and unexpected viewpoints transform the space into an enigmatic realm, where the artist’s figure becomes part of a visual labyrinth that challenges the viewer’s gaze. Through these scenes, Cárdenas not only explores his identity as a painter but also examines the boundaries between reality and illusion, establishing a dialogue with artistic tradition and transforming his studio into a unique laboratory of the gaze. Private collection, Medellín.