On October 30, 2024, PIASA will auction an oil on canvas by Iván Tovar during its Modern and Contemporary Art sale.
Iván Tovar's art stands out for its unique mastery of line and a graphic precision that propels it into a dreamlike and surreal dimension. The perfection of his drawing, far from being rigid, manifests in fluid forms that intertwine in loops, twists, and spirals, evoking tortils, heraldic motifs that seem to animate his works with a whirling energy. These arabesques are not mere ornaments: they are part of a dynamic that captures the viewer’s gaze and leads them on an emotionally complex journey.
Tovar's work is always accompanied by a central detail: a pearl, a recurring symbol in his paintings. This pearl, which he metaphorically manipulates between his fingers, becomes a focal point. It oscillates in a quasi-hypnotic space, representing that fragile moment when rationality gives way to a form of creative madness. It is precisely in this suspended moment, just before the tipping point, that Tovar's work takes on its full power and invites the viewer to a total sensory experience.
Iván Tovar (1942-2020)
Untitled, 1973
Estimate: 80 000 / 120 000 €
What truly sets Tovar apart is his innovative use of color, subtly integrated into the delineation of his forms. While the contours of his paintings seem to waver between shadow and light, he remarkably balances the power dynamics between these two elements. Light is no longer a mere optical effect; it becomes an integral component, actively contributing to the visual narrative.
The sfumato, a traditional technique of soft transitions between shadow and light, finds in Tovar a striking reinvention. Solar light becomes his palette, and he uses colors not to create simplistic contrasts but to give depth to his forms, particularly through cast shadows that give a new dimension to pearly or milky tones. This delicate approach banishes any primary contrast effect, creating compositions where light and color engage in a fascinating harmony.
Thus, Tovar transcends simple visual representation to delve into a philosophical exploration of light, matter, and creative madness. His works invite us to feel, to lose ourselves in mazes of sensations, where every detail, every twist, every pearl, contributes to the creation of an enigmatic and captivating universe.