'That was then, this is now' contemporary exhibition opens in Barcelona

The Barcelona Can Framis Museum will welcome the work of contemporary Catalan artist Yago Hortal, in the exhibition "'Allò era abans, això és ara", or "That was then, this is now", in a chronological retrospective journey through the painter's 14 years of activity from February 2 until May 30.

The exhibition displays more than 40 works, ranging from pieces that Hortal created as a student all the way to his latest unpublished work in a unique timeline of his art, which now sees him displayed throughout the world's art capitals such as New York and Berlin.

"A profoundly uninhibited work, full of joy," described Àlex Susanna, the art director of Vila Casa Foundation, who runs the Can Framis Museum.

Indeed, Hortal's work is an abstract exploration of brushstrokes and vivid, vibrant, even fluorescent color, although in his latest pieces the artist has begun to focus on bringing in darker shades into his work.

Hortal's technique is also unique. Hortal emphasizes that he works in singular paint strokes, as well as always remaining on the floor to work. With this, the painter also experiments with layering; creating grandiose pieces that are so thick with acrylic they become three-dimensional.

One of the striking features of Hortal's work is that none of them have a title.

"Naming [the works] closes off the spectator's vision," Hortal explained to the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

Rather, all his canvases hold initials of the streets where they were created, and numerals to represent wherein they appear chronologically. Thus, 'SP' stands for Sant Pere Més Alt in Barcelona and' KF', for Kunstafabrik in Berlin.