ILLÁN ARGÜELLO

Madrid, Spain, 1978

MY NAME´S LOLITA ART

Illán Argüello is a self-taught figurative artist who started out in the 90s and has been, perhaps more than most, influenced by the Italian ‘metaphysical’ movement. His work is characterised by an austere iconography, featuring geometric elements and improbable forms.
His world of visionary architecture is depicted in monochrome, using charcoal on paper to reach a highly contrasted, yet nuanced climax. His inspiration could be said to intentionally recall the classically known prints throughout art history, such as those of Ellison Hoover, Walter Buttrick and Piranesi.
The drawing in itself is able to confer a more direct and decisive contribution to the creative process. It isn’t a mere sketch or rough draft before producing the final work. It is in fact quite the opposite. The drawing holds an intrinsic value, which provides it with complete autonomy through its very creation.