'Rediscovered Geniuses' at Red Eight Gallery at London's Royal Exchange held it's press private view on thursday October 3rd to try and avoid getting sucked inot the tidal wave of Frieze London openings as the art world decended on Mayfair and Regents park.

The event had a calm start, attracting VIP guests and curious onlookers, which kept us occupied until closing time at 10pm. I particularly enjoy intimate private viewings where we can engage in unhurried conversations with collectors and journalists about the artist and the carefully selected abstract art paintings. In the context of Guirado's art, this close setting is essential to elucidate the technique involving the application of highly diluted oil paint on special photographic paper using spatulas and brushes, resulting in the creation of intricate layers depicting kaleidoscopic universes. His technique is superbly sensual for his oils have the fluidity of water colours in their silky, tactile quality and yet the contours of his visions have the definite, highly contrasted accuracy of the early masters of the Chiaroscuro. Â
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The name of my exhibition curation, 'VISIONS', was inspired by one of the paintings displayed and by Guirado's altered state of mind where he experienced 'visions' while painting, tapping into unknown sources to create intricate gateways into mystical realms. Guirado, a spiritual artist, drew influence from Eastern philosophies and encouraged viewers to engage with their third eye to perceive the painting's true essence.

The series of paintings in the exhibiton were created between the 1990s and 2000s, prior to the artist's passing in 2010, are considered by both critics and the artist himself as possibly his most exceptional works. At first glance, these artworks may appear to be merely abstract kaleidoscopic displays of color. However, upon closer observation, we uncover the profound intimacy that surrounds them. Human beings are inherently divine, yet often hesitant to delve into our inner selves. Guirado's paintings reveal a magical essence that can transport us to a marvelous spiritual realm, prompting contemplation on our cosmic existence. Guirado skillfully captures exploding universes on canvas, drawing inspiration from Hindu Vedanta tantra to illustrate the interplay between cosmic structures and human energy. These artworks serve as reflective mirrors of consciousness, employing various elements such as tools and color to seek a focal point for elevated inspiration.
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I always enjoy talking with new collectors who I invite into the Guirado family. It's kind of like getting a badge of honor and being invited into a secret that not everyone understands.
Guirado's paintings aren't always easy to live with. His dream landscapes, at times extremely vivid, take us into a journey in search of our soul or the significance of things. Man appears as a tree, or a shadow of himself, or even fragmented. It is a type of painting, which unfolds and through mirrors of metaphysical optics guides us by its strength through the essence of man. What you see and read from the painting can change according to your mood or the way the light hits the painting at certain times throughout the day into the night when the shadow and depth of the painting is at its strongest. perhaps its Guirado's Twilight Zone or witching hour but I love looking at these paintings around 4-5 pm in the afternoon in the summer when the sun is lower and creates an angelic glow as the shadows start to appear and also at night around 10pm when they take on a completly different perspective.
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Much of Guirado's work revolves around a tunnel of white light, of immaculate purity and infinite length, with files of people heading toward the light and that final mystery. It is the Tantra, which inspires Guirado to be honest with himself whilst relating to the past and present to forecast the future. It is with this reason his work contains the mysteries and doubts that all human beings carry inside themselves. It is only when gazing at his paintings do we develop, without noticing, the sense of our own existence.In sum, he is the fusion of both the Renaissance and surrealist world. With his Intrarealist painting, Guirado fosters what could be called the ‘intravision’ or the vision of the self. Â
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When asked to describe his. painting Guirado is quoted as saying;Â
"I would describe it as intra-realist painting. It is the type of painting that one has to see with the third eye, the eye of the mind." QUESADA MENDUIÑA for Idea Jaén 1982
You can learn more about my father's art and my work curating this show and with the estate in this exclusive interview I did with Lee Sharrock for Art Plugged.
Rediscovered Geniuses' runs until November 14th and works are available for private view by contacting julian.usher@redeightgallery.com or VIEW WORKS FOR SALE
Follow Guirado Estate and Red Gallery on instagram for more coverage of the exhibition.
By Catalina Guirado
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