Playa inexplorada 1980

Editor: Angel Planells created "Playa Inexplorada," or "Unexplored Beach," in 1980 using oil paint. It’s such a strange, dreamlike scene; it's making me feel slightly uneasy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's the subconscious playing out on canvas, isn't it? These biomorphic forms draped in white recall shrouded figures. Perhaps they’re reliquaries or altars on this…uncharted shore. Look how the open shells hint at a butterfly, a potent symbol of transformation and the soul’s journey in many cultures. Editor: Transformation, yes, that butterfly is eye-catching. But shrouded figures on a beach – what’s the connection? Curator: Consider the beach as a liminal space, a threshold between worlds. The shrouded figures evoke a sense of mystery, of rituals hidden from view. Planells, working in a post-surrealist vein, often explored themes of hidden realities and repressed desires. Are these forms concealing something or protecting something? Editor: I hadn’t thought about them as protective. Like guarding secrets or memories? Curator: Precisely. Notice the contrasting elements – the harsh, rocky landscape juxtaposed with the delicate butterfly, the stark white shrouds against the vivid blue sky. These contrasting elements contribute to the painting's underlying tension, reflecting the human psyche, constantly balancing opposing forces. The sea…do you get the feeling it both conceals and reveals at the same time? Editor: It does! So Planells is using these symbols to explore the hidden parts of our minds. Curator: Indeed. The symbols create a sense of unease because they tap into archetypal fears and desires. They make us confront what’s often left unspoken, buried beneath the surface of our everyday lives. It is a compelling visual riddle about mortality and transcendence. Editor: I never would have thought to look at it that way! Seeing the symbolism laid out really unlocks the hidden meanings for me. Curator: Exactly. Each symbol echoes across time and experience, a constant return to visual meaning that both troubles and excites.