Manuel López Pérez

Manuel López Pérez lives and works in Andújar, where his natural and artistic desires and concerns began at a very early age, grasping the difficulty concerning the true language of sculpture, message of which is conveyed today with signs of questionable importance.

Aware of the confusing nature of modern visual art, Manuel adopts a clear stance by not straying from figuration, as this kind of representation allows for a wide and varied scope to express feelings and emotions following continually renewed paths closely set out by science, art and culture. This sense of direction can be observed in all of the pieces that Manolo has exhibited over the course of his artistic career.

Eduardo Capa Sacristán

"Too often it is to see how the artist becomes entangled in sterile conceptual debates that in my opinion fail to resolve a specific problem. The artist should arrive fresh at the final stage of the creative process through proper teamwork". With these words Manuel López summarises in his own artistic manifesto how he came to make peace with the creative process, with his methods and with the discipline in order to find his own, individual and ultimate purpose.

Trained in classic art and with a strong Roman influence (he learned about and absorbed knowledge from the great sculptors of ancient times and the use of the finest materials), the creative evolution has led him to enhance his extensive work delving into figurative language whereby he channels knowledge, sensations and spirituality, particularly in his most recent work.

Some pieces from his earlier days are pioneers of the stylistic concept that clearly characterises his modern work. An accentuated dynamism full of chiaroscuros in Niño de Kentucky [Kentucky Boy], formally designed with a stroke of genius that is capable of giving a 3D illustrative shape to a bronze figure; the rough outline of Lambretta or Mujer con carrito [Woman with pram], where the child's buggy, which is a part of the composition, must be reconstructed by the human eye; or the reminiscence of proportions in Desnudo [Nude], inevitably a sensory trip to the past and the historical ideals of beauty.

EXHIBITIONS

2014. Apostolus Fair. Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña.

2013. Participation in Arteando. Galería Quorum. Irún.

2013. Bullfighting sculpture exhibition. Lances [Moves], Sala Antoñete, Plaza de Toros, Las Ventas. San Isidro Fair, 2013. Madrid.

2013. Bullfighting sculpture exhibition at Gran Hotel La Perla, Pamplona.

2004.Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.

2003. Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.

2001. Capa Esculturas inauguration. Brussels, Belgium.

2000. Inclusion in Capa Esculturas. Madrid.

1993. Collective. Galería Tenorio. Ronda. Malaga.

Homenaje a [Tribute to]Antonio González Orea. Sala Municipal de Exposiciones [Municipal Exhibition Centre]. Andújar, Jaén.

1991. Collective Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando [San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts]. Madrid.

1990. Collective year group 89-90. Spanish Academy of History, Archaeology and Fine Arts. Rome.

1996. Solo exhibition Villardompardo Palace. Catalogue. Provincial Government of Jaén. 1989 - 1991

Collective exhibition in Rome. Year group 1989 – 1990. Rome.

1988. I Exhibition of Sculptures by Students of Carving in the Faculty of Fine Arts in Seville. Aracena, Huelva.

Board of the Museum of Contemporary Art Andalusia.

PUBLIC AND INSTITUTIONAL WORK

2014. Sculpture of the Virgen de Consolación. 75th Anniversary.

2013. Works included in the fighting bull farm El Añadio. Vilches, Jaén.

2013. Grille Escuelas profesionales Sagrada Familia [Sagrada Familia Professional Schools Foundation], Andújar, Jaén.

2013. Monument for the Community of Society of Jesús. Escuelas profesionales Sagrada Familia [Sagrada Familia Professional Schools Foundation], Andújar, Jaén.

2013. Porcuna stone monument in honour of the "Virgen de la Cabeza". Jamilena, Jaén.

2012. Custodia for Trinitarian Order worship. Centenarios Trinitarios.

2012. Entrance roundabout for Arjona, Jaén.

2011. High Altar, presbytery of the Santuario de la Virgen de la Cabeza. Basilica project.

2011. Sculpture 50th anniversary of secondary school IES Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza. Andújar, Jaén.

2010. Crozier for the archbishop of Mérida-Badajoz, Santiago García Aracil, for his 25 years of episcopal ordination. Badajoz.

2009. Complete remodelling of the Iglesia de la Divina Pastora in Andújar (an old Capuchins convent from the XVI century. Padres Paules [Vicentian Fathers])

Civil works: Courtyards, rooms, atrium and bell tower. Making the tabernacle, ambo and interior furniture.

2009. Sculpture tribute to the Manger, roundabout in Las Vistillas park. Andújar, Jaén.

2009. Design and creation of a gothic altarpiece for the presbytery of the Church of la Asunción de Nuestra Señora in Bedmar, Jaén.

2008 - 2009. Seat and high altar Cathedral of Badajoz. Archdiocese Mérida, Badajoz.

2008 - 2009. Remodelling of the presbytery Real Santuario Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza.  Andújar, Jaén. Chapel of El Santísimo, ambo and seat.

2007. Polychrome carving of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza in Malaga.

Monument of the Mujer en Jamuga [Women on Savonarola Chair]. Plaza Autonomía. Andújar, Jaén.

Sculpture of Hercules, facade of the Palacio de Sirvientes de Mieres and Cárdenas (XVIII century). Andújar, Jaén.

Presidential Seat Cathedral of Badajoz.

Tabernacle of the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza of Andújar, Jaén.

2006. Resurrected Christ. San Eufrasio Parish Church. Andújar, Jaén.

Execution and design of monumental grille. Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza of Andújar, Jaén.

Monument paying tribute to the Pastor de Colomera. Granada.

2005. Polychrome carving of Resurrected Christ. Burgos.

2004. Baptistry, baptismal font. Cathedral of Jaén.

2002 -2003. Seat or Chair of the presbytery. Cathedral of Jaén.

Cross made of silver and walnut wood used to hold the Lignum Crucis. Cathedral of Jaén.

2000. Bronze reliefs (15), sonnets for the Rosario Monumental [Rosary Monument]. Walkways Real Santuario Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza. Andújar, Jaén.

2000 - 2001. Execution of the Gospel Book used for the Inauguration of the Jubilee Year. Cathedral Treasure. Jaén.

1998 - 1999. Execution of the high altar. Cathedral of Jaén.

1995. Pilgrim Monument. Natural Park Sierra de Andújar, Jaén.

1995. Theatre Sculpture. Plaza de Santa María in Andújar, Jaén.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

1994. First Prize. I Antonio González Oreo Sculpture Biennial. Municipal Council of Andújar, Jaén

1989. Shortlisted. Autumn Exhibition. Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa Isabel of Hungary. Seville.

1989. Scholarship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Spanish Academy of History, Archaeology and Fine Arts of Rome. Rome.

Works by Manuel López Pérez.