Guillermo Lorca - EL NACIMIENTO DE VENUS, 2021. Photo by Thomas Dashuber.
Guillermo Lorca’s large work is filled with numerous living characters and a nude female figure arising in the middle.
Lorca prepared his monumental painting by studying the myth of Venus and her iconographical depiction throughout the centuries. Contrary to Botticelli’s masterpiece, which shows the moment of the goddess’ arrival on land after her birth, Lorca decided to capture the very moment of her birth. With this twist, he makes this painting unique in the history of art.
Through the dynamic, stormy movements the viewer becomes part of the mythical moment. Venus is surrounded by a mixture of waves, blood and sea foam as a reference to the sperm of Uranus after his castration. In addition to the familiar iconography, Lorca depicts those who receive Venus as birds and hides a quote to another of Botticelli’s artworks by placing the scene in front of a forest inspired by the masterpiece Primavera.
