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"The beauty that emerges from Bestard’s paintings is always disturbing. The radical eroticism goes side by side with humoristic winks and, in the everyday sight, we see, simultaneously, the strength of desire and the frustrations of a fragile beast, sensitive and isolated. A dead bird closes our mouth. Silence. We are alone in front of the painting.”

Albert Lladó, art criticBarcelona May 2013

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Rafel BestardOil on canvas

Statement.Well, there’s no doubt that there is some kind of real world outside our minds, but we know about it only through our experience - an experience that includes not only the direct information we receive through our senses, but also knowledge, memory, fantasy, imagination, dreams…. Conformism limits the experience of the world in every day life, but we can feel that there is something else, and that is just there, in the joints of the armored commonplace that imprisons us.

From my early days I wanted the painting to reveal something: A special world in which the appearance of absurdity gives way in which things are rebelling against the narrow range of meanings which have been embedded in a world that is becoming increasingly complex.

My work explores the relationship between fusion and fundamental opposites: Light and Shadow, Love and Death. Through a painting technique in which the tradition of the old masters, through influences as diverse as Bachelard philosophy and Kobayashi films, brings forth new representations of eternal concerns.

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Rafel BestardA brief history.

Born in Palma de Mallorca in 1967.

Graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Barcelona in 1990. Professor of Technical Drawing between 2009-2012 at the School of Design Balearic Islands (ESBID) originally established in 1779.

Participation in courses and seminars about theory and history of contemporary art at the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró established in 1981 in and the Juan March Foundation established in 1955 in Madrid.

Attended workshops under Spanish Master Antonio Lopez 2011-2015 and additional study in portraiture at LARA (London Atelier of Representation Art)

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Some considerations in Rafel Bestard`s work:

- Light. As a master oil painter Rafel Bestard explores what light gives to the painting, how an environment changes, how colors are affected and therefore he affects the emotions of the viewers by the mood the composition’s light.

- History. Bestard knows the old master painters, as a devotee of Velazquez and Goya, Rembrandt, Ingres and more; he has studied all of them not just to take inspirations about subjects and/or appreciate the skills and techniques, but also to understand what is his own place in this line of work. What is the place for the painting in the confused contemporary art world? What can his form of painting communicate and contribute?

- Natural or human world. The nature appears in Bestard’s painting as a reflection of the “values” of the human being, some of these symbols, as zebras or monkeys, expressed sometimes moral aspects, other times complex metaphors about certain attitudes and personalities, simple dreams and even political or religious criticism. Whatever his subject matter, Rafel consistently uses symbology in his work.

- Personal fetish. Along his trajectory as an artist, Bestard has constructed different kinds of environments where the models face various disturbing or placid “dreams”, but even in the most intense scenes the model appears with some bracelets, rings, necklaces or earrings, this is a kind of mark where the artist expressed his own presence through them as a particular signature.

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Rafel Bestard

Some pieces from the beginning.

These are some of the first pieces that Rafel Bestard was able to really understand the importance of his work from a personal perspective.

From the very beginning the intention was to try to capture the “light” from the island, Mallorca, where he has worked and lived since the nineties.

“I shall respect your feelings”Oil on canvas 170x180 cm.

“Aguas turbias”Oil on canvas 210x210 cm.

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Rafel Bestard

“Vol sortir en camiseta”Oil on canvas 150x150 cm.

Some pieces from the beginning.

Rafel developed his skill for almost 15 years before his work brought him his first sense of satisfaction. He has been rewarded for his work with many important exhibitions and awards of great prestige.

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Rafel BestardAwards.

2012 1st. X Biennial Arts Award Ciudad de Albacete, Albacete.

2008 Acquisition Prize VIII Biennial of Plastic Arts City of Albacete, Albacete.

2008 Honorable Mention Ciutat de Palma d'Arts Plàstiques, Palma de Mallorca.

2007 Special Jury Mention Ciutat de Palma d'Arts Plàstiques, Palma de Mallorca.

2007 1st. Premi Ciutat d'Arts Award Plàstiques Manacor, Manacor

2004 2nd prize International Painting Competition Vila de Binissalem, Binissalem.

2001 1st. Painting Competition Dijous Bo, Inca Prize.

1998 1st. XL Prize Award jove painting, Sala Parés-Fund. Banc Sabadell, Barcelona.

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Rafel Bestard

“Ce que l’on dit du Sauveur”Oil on canvas 150x150 cm.

“Ce qu’il pense de nous”Oil on canvas 150x150 cm.

The next step.

It was 2009 that marked a year of rapid changes for Bestard's work. This was the year that his work began to show in other countries. His work has been shown in China, Switzerland, Germany, Canada and USA among others.

As soon as his work began to show internationally, Bestard felt that was the right time for him to explore different directions in his compositions.

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Rafel Bestard

“Ceux qui dorment dans le centre”Oil on canvas 170x180 cm.

The next step.

To advance his work, Bestard began to really feel the impulse to control light. He began bringing light to internal spaces and also brought in the elements of nature that he had studied in recent years.

And so, with the international recognition of viewers and collectors, Rafel has begun to be recognized as one of the important painters of our generation in the scene of contemporary painting.

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Rafel Bestard

“Busqueda”Oil on canvas 146x114 cm.

The new work.

In his current body of work Bestard continues his study of light and is exploring the simple way that he can control the source and intensity of light within the studio.

In this newer work, nature is defined as a device that emphasizes a human being who tries to find his place and continues to symbolize exploration inside the composition.

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Rafel Bestard

“Sacrilegio”Oil on canvas 114x97 cm.

“Expolio”Oil on canvas 100x81 cm.

Consolidation through

partnership.

Galeria Contrast is committed to growing awareness of Rafel Bestard’s work. To do so it is important to make alliances and share the benefits of those alliances, so the work of can continue to be appreciated by a larger audience.

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Rafel Bestard

“Confusión”Oil on canvas 130x96 cm.

“Voll”Oil on canvas 130x89 cm.

Consolidation through

partnership.

Already Galeria Contrast has the exclusive rights for the Bestard’s work, but shares the rights with institutions and galleries interested in promoting this artist.

MOKUMGALLERIE

We firmly believe that with the work of Rafel Bestard, Mokum Gallery, being a prestigious and well founded gallery in The Netherlands, can be a vital partner that will continue to engage the public interest in contemporary painting.