Considered one of the most outstanding artists of the post-war period in Spain, Josep Guinovart evolved from to matter-based abstraction. The movement afforded him a new perspective based on the free manipulation of objects and materials, using a variety of means of expression to achieve a highly personal and recognisable style.
Guinovart used to establish a direct relationship between nature and painting, integrating materials from his surrounding environs into his compositions to create a homogenous whole. From 1974 onwards, sand was one of the main elements in his works, to the point that it accrued a symbolic quality. This artistic use of sand was rooted in the time Guinovart spent in Agramunt during the Civil War. His experience of rural life there prompted a reflection on the value and meaning of the earth, a subject matter that would persist in his work until the end of his days.
This mixed-media work is a good example of his mature style. Rendered with , , and , the background clearly demonstrates Guinovart’s interest in organic forms inspired by nature. Over this ground he adds acrylic, pencil and humble materials like string and particularly sand, which he uses to cover part of the surface, thus managing to merge all the elements.
The whole of Guinovart’s oeuvre, underwritten by the freedom of his painterly language and the depth of his inner world, expresses the artist’s determination to structure and compose his work in a both balanced and expressive manner. His work has a direct connection with reality, and therein lies the key to his output: despite the abstract nature of his composition, the textures, objects and colours of his paintings elicit realist impressions and generate sensations, transforming elements from nature into symbols that speak of life and the earth.