Armando Romero

Armando Romero's paintings juxtapose historical works with popular culture, creating irreverent and humorous pieces. His series "Las Nuevas Tentaciones De San Antonio" includes famous characters from various media, challenging the notion of irreverence in the 21st century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2025
Publisher: Turner Publicaciones, S.L.

Armando Romero's paintings often juxtapose his re-painting of historical works by Old Masters like Velazquez, Bosch, and Veronese with images from popular culture, resulting in a style that is often described as irreverent. This practice is exemplified in series like Las Nuevas Tentaciones De San Antonio (2000), in which he re-paints and re-presents Bosch's triptych The Temptations of St. Anthony (1501) but adds Tweety, Pokémon, various Looney Tunes and Disney characters, superheroes including Superman, Spiderman, and the Fantastic Four, the Jetsons, Topcat, Penelope Pitstop, the Flintstones, Smurfs, the gang from Scooby-Doo and Jerry from Tom and Jerry. At first glance, irreverent seems like an appropriate description of such work, but further consideration of his historical source suggests that we consider not only how irreverent it is to describe the work of an artist as irreverent in the 21st century.

Romero's re-paintings of historical works often involve a playful and subversive approach, challenging the traditional notion of art as a sacred and untouchable entity. By incorporating popular culture references into his paintings, Romero invites viewers to engage with art in a more informal and accessible way. He uses these references to comment on contemporary society, often highlighting the absurdity and superficiality of popular culture.

One of Romero's most notable series is Las Nuevas Tentaciones De San Antonio (2000). In this series, he re-paints and re-presents Bosch's triptych The Temptations of St. Anthony (1501). However, instead of simply replicating the original, Romero adds a wide range of contemporary characters and imagery. These include Tweety, Pokémon, various Looney Tunes and Disney characters, superheroes including Superman, Spiderman, and the Fantastic Four, the Jetsons, Topcat, Penelope Pitstop, the Flintstones, Smurfs, the gang from Scooby-Doo and Jerry from Tom and Jerry.

The inclusion of these characters and imagery is not just a gimmick or a way to attract attention. Romero uses them to comment on the cultural and social impact of popular culture. For example, Tweety represents the innocence and optimism of childhood, while Pokémon represents the obsession with technology and the pursuit of power. The Jetsons represent the futuristic vision of a society that has become overly reliant on technology, while Topcat represents the rebellious and adventurous spirit of youth.

Romero's re-paintings of historical works also challenge the notion of art as a static and unchanging entity. By re-presenting these works in a new context, he invites viewers to see them in a new light. He may use different colors, textures, or perspectives to create a different mood or atmosphere. This can be particularly effective in works that are centuries old, as it can help to bring them to life and make them more relevant to modern audiences.

However, Romero's re-paintings of historical works have also been criticized for their lack of respect for the original works. Some argue that by adding contemporary characters and imagery, Romero is disrespecting the original artist's vision and intent. They argue that the original works should be left untouched and preserved as they were intended.

Romero's response to these criticisms is that he is not trying to disrespect the original works. He believes that art is a living and evolving entity that should be open to interpretation and reinterpretation. He believes that by adding contemporary characters and imagery, he is creating a new dialogue between the past and the present.

In addition to his re-paintings of historical works, Romero has also created his own original works. These works often explore similar themes and ideas, but they are more personal and introspective. Romero's paintings often feature abstract and surrealistic elements, and he uses a variety of techniques to create his images.

One of Romero's most notable original works is The Garden of Earthly Delights (2005). In this painting, Romero creates a surrealistic landscape that features a variety of animals, plants, and humans. The painting is divided into three sections, each representing a different aspect of human life. The first section features a group of animals playing in a lush garden, while the second section features a group of humans engaged in a variety of activities, including eating, drinking, and dancing. The third section features a group of humans engaged in a variety of sexual activities.

Despite the controversy surrounding his re-paintings of historical works, Romero's work has been widely acclaimed. He has exhibited his work in galleries and museums around the world, and his paintings have sold for millions of dollars. He has also been awarded numerous awards, including the Premio Nacional de Artes Plásticas in 2005 and the Premio Nacional de Artes Visuales in 2007.

In conclusion, Armando Romero's paintings often juxtapose his re-painting of historical works by Old Masters with images from popular culture, resulting in a style that is often described as irreverent. While some may argue that this practice is disrespectful to the original artist's vision and intent, Romero believes that art is a living and evolving entity that should be open to interpretation and reinterpretation. His re-paintings of historical works have been widely acclaimed, and his original works have been equally impressive. Whether you love or hate his work, there is no denying that Romero is a talented and innovative artist who has made a significant impact on the art world.

Weight: 1546g
Dimension: 242 x 279 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788416354931