96 - DANIEL CALATAYUD (Valencia, 1973).

DANIEL CALATAYUD (Valencia, 1973). “Traces of Steel and Silk.” Oil on panel. Certificate of authenticity included. Measurements: 70 x 70 cm. The contrast between strength and delicacy defines this composition, in which Daniel Calatayud reinterprets Japanese iconography through a figurative language marked by strong geometric elements. Two figures—a samurai clad in armor and a woman dressed in an elaborate kimono—take center stage in a scene of great chromatic intensity. The fragmentation of the faces and garments into angular planes alludes to certain Cubist techniques, reinterpreted through a contemporary sensibility akin to graphic illustration. Deep blues, blacks, and metallic tones are hallmarks of the composition, contrasting with warm oranges, reds, and delicate floral motifs, reinforcing the duality suggested by the title. The artist thus succeeds in reconciling the structural forcefulness of the composition with the ornamental refinement of the Japanese tradition. Daniel Calatayud trained at the Artemis Art Academy and furthered his studies through university courses in art theory, art history, and artistic techniques. He earned a master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (2013–2014). He was a member of the artistic group La Aldaba until 2005 and has participated in numerous group exhibitions and competitions, including those organized by the Mainel Foundation. Her career includes a solo exhibition at the Le Grand Exhibition Center (2005), as well as participation in exhibitions held in Jerez de la Frontera, Marbella, and Paris.