'CATAPOP' opens at Espai Isern Dalmau

The exhibition of El Xupet Negre 'CATAPOP' can now be visited at the Espai Isern Dalmau of the Lluís Coromina Foundation. The Catalan graffiti artist, known internationally, joins his career with that of the urban artist SM172 to create a proposal that fuses Catalan culture and pop aesthetics. Both artists have created a total of ten works, each of them based on a specific image that makes direct reference to Catalan culture.

Through a diversity of characters and traditional objects of the land, which they interpret on the canvas, an identity image of Catalan culture is created. In order for it to be recognized globally, the artists have been inspired by the aesthetics of American pop art of the seventies. CATAPOP focuses attention on images that are easy to identify and recognize, elevating them to the category of art, in order to make them accessible to all of society.
Thus, CATAPOP was born with the purpose of creating a renewed and unique iconography of Catalan culture. Through the technique of stenciling consisting of stamping a drawing with the help of a template that presents an already cut design and with the use of flat and vivid colors, artists achieve a fresh and direct result of which gives off great communicative power.

Although the project is inspired by Pop Art, CATAPOP transcends traditional boundaries by incorporating Street Art and muralism that are part of the aesthetics of both artists. The artists: SM172, Caesar Baetulo (Badalona, 1975), an artist very active in the urban art scene for more than two decades, is known under this pseudonym. His work has a series of special characteristics in which all the characters in his works are based on images that SM172 himself makes and then takes to the templates.
In this way, he creates his pictorial compositions both in paintings in the workshop, and in murals made in cities or on the outskirts and in abandoned but strategically located places. The richness of his iconography lies in the diversity of influences that permeate his art: from superheroes to Velázquez, from Impressionism to poster art. He has participated in various fairs, urban art and illustration festivals, and individual and group exhibitions around the world.

El Xupet Negre (Carlos Redón, Barcelona, 1969), considered one of the 50 most influential Street Artists of all time, is the forerunner of Logo Art and one of its greatest exponents. His beginnings are linked to graphic design and advertising until in 1987 he began to paint on the street, first with a marker and two years later with an aerosol. He started by painting a pacifier around the legendary Barcelona bar - now closed - Or Negre and hence its name "El Xupet Negre". This image became almost an icon of the city, arousing people's curiosity and restlessness regarding its significance, which made the artist himself reflect.

He found the answer in the anti-racist and unifying message that is directly related to our childhood. From this moment on, the content will be key in his work using words and phrases of a social, vindictive nature and in favor of human rights. His work conveys values such as peace, equality, respect, freedom and love, becoming an icon of the city of Barcelona. The influences he has received are wide and range from Pop Art to graffiti through advertising, graphic design, road signage and art history in general.