An emptied Guernica: it is the reinterpretation of José Manuel Ballester

A completely stripped-down Guernica by Picasso: this is the reinterpretation by renowned Spanish photographer and artist José Manuel Ballester that has been given the title Around Guernica, 2009/2020. Printed life-size with Durst technology, the unprecedented version is featured in the 2020/03/15 José Manuel Ballester exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao until February 21, 2021.

Around Guernica, 2009/2020 is a stripped-down version of Picasso’s masterpiece that conveys an updated look at the historical event and human tragedy. With Around Guernica, Ballester adds a new artwork to the project he began more than a decade ago, when he decided to investigate the architectural and natural spaces of some of history’s most famous works such as Las Meninas or The Garden of Earthly Delights. An artistic work that has earned him international recognition for his ability to reinterpret famous paintings by eliminating humans and animals.

The work aims to address the absurdity of human violence and wars, but maintaining a “living” element: the flower that was already shown in the original painting, and which symbolizes hope, even for the difficult times we are living in.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao turned to Estudios Durero, which uses Durst technology, to print the unprecedented 3.5 x 7.8-meter version of Ballester on white, hand-woven linen material.

An emptied Guernica: it is the reinterpretation of José Manuel Ballester

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