Gabriel Picart
“My paintings are in a pure realistic style, not hyper-realistic, so the imitation of reality is only apparent.
This is where the true magic in painting is to be found for me.”
Gabriel Picart was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1962, where he still lives and Works today. Previously an illustrator for major publishing houses across the US, Picart has been painting full time since 1996.
Picart's paintings are permanently on display at some of the most recognized galleries in the US, and have attracted special attention of noteworthy critics and collectors.
Artist statement on Flight of Icarus:
‘The death of Icarus has moved humans over the centuries. Daedalus attempts to gain his freedom by improving upon his human condition. He uses his knowledge to gain power over his limiting nature. But only gods have the power to convert falling humans into birds. Daedalus, and mankind with him, is humiliated and punished with the death of his own son for daring to reach out of his humble human condition. Icarus makes a temerarious use of the powers given to him by the wise and prudent inventor and pays with his life.
The aesthetic appeal of his tragic story has inspired many artists: Bruegel, Matisse, Chagall ... Icarus’ fate has been reminded to us in early, modern and contemporary art. In most of cases however, artists have depicted ‘The Fall of Icarus’, while I have depicted ‘The Flight’. While legend precautions us on the ‘Icarian dangers’ that are produced by ‘flying too high’, in my painting I praise those men who have the courage to approach the Sun, risking their own life if needed. The Sun, the Truth, the Knowledge, the Discovering of new lands... In my painting, some feathers start falling off, as Icarus approaches the Sun. But one cannot tell for sure whether he will fall before he gets to it. This is because my Icarus is not depicted while flying high and near the Sun, but while flying directly toward it instead.
I have a liking of Ancient Egypt. Its achievements in science, architecture and art clearly went beyond the humble human condition of that time -- as Daedelus did. Sun worship was exceptionally prevalent in ancient Egyptian religion, and during the eighteenth dynasty the polytheistic religion of Egypt changed to a monotheistic one whose only image of deity (Aten) was the sun. Icarus’ wings are clearly inspired by Ancient Egypt aesthetics. My Icarus depicts a human been trying to reach God.’
