brothers in spirit
Roberto Fabelo & Francisco Goya
Goya’s prints dialogue with works by Cuban artist Roberto Fabelo at the exhibition at Conde Duque in Madrid, titled “Mundos. Goya y Fabelo” (Worlds. Goya and Fabelo), which ran from February to July 2023, drew parallels between Roberto Fabelo and Francisco Goya primarily through their shared critical perspective on society and human folly.
The exhibition at Conde Duque in Madrid, titled “Mundos. Goya y Fabelo” (Worlds. Goya and Fabelo), which ran from February to July 2023, drew parallels between Roberto Fabelo and Francisco Goya primarily through their shared critical perspective on society and human folly.
WHY THEY ARE SIMILAR
Key points of comparison included:
Despite being separated by over two centuries, the exhibition highlighted how both artists use a powerful, often grotesque, and symbolic language to denounce societal cruelties and human errors.
Social Critique: Both artists were unflinching critics of their respective societies. Goya’s famous series, “Los Caprichos” and “Los Desastres de la Guerra” (The Disasters of War), which were prominently featured in the exhibition, satirized vices, corruption, and the horrors of conflict in his time. Fabelo’s works similarly offer sharp social commentary on contemporary issues, including reflections on power, manipulation, and the human condition.
Universal Themes: The exhibition argued that despite their different historical and geographical contexts, the vices and errors of humanity that Goya exposed remain tragically current in Fabelo’s art, creating a timeless dialogue about universal human experiences.
Grotesque and Fantastical Imagery: The exhibition emphasized their shared use of the grotesque and fantastical elements. Goya’s “sleep of reason” producing monsters in his “Caprichos” found a contemporary echo in Fabelo’s imagery, particularly his hybrid creatures, human-faced cockroaches (“Sobrevivientes” series), and rhinoceros sculptures (“Liderazgo” series), which served as allegories for societal leaders and human instincts.
Imagination and Symbolism: Both artists possess boundless imaginations, creating rich internal worlds filled with symbolism where the anthropomorphic blends with the animal kingdom. Their art is replete with codes and visual metaphors that invite viewers to reflect on deeper truths.
In essence, the Conde Duque exhibition presented a dialogue between two artistic giants whose works, though stylistically distinct, converge in their profound and often unsettling critique of the human condition and society through vivid symbolism and imaginative, sometimes monstrous, depictions.