Javier Calleja: MR. GÜNTER, THE CAT SHOW

CICA Vancouver is excited to announce Spanish artist Javier Calleja’s first solo exhibition in Canada, “MR. GÜNTER, THE CAT SHOW”, opening from October 6 to November 20, 2022.

Touring from Parco Museum in Tokyo, the exhibition “MR. GÜNTER, THE CAT SHOW” will not only feature Calleja’s signature paintings and drawings; but will also include a site-specific installation and the newest sculptures the artist has been working on for the last 5 years. Presented as an installation, the entire exhibition space is revamped into the playground of Javier Calleja’s cat Mr. Günter. Strolling freely through CICA Vancouver, Mr. Günter becomes the “host” welcoming the audience to a selection of sketches, paintings, and large-scale sculptures that have never been shown before.

Javier Calleja’s work is distinguished by his ability to imprint surprise and a sense of humour in our everyday lives. Deeply admiring surrealist master René Magritte, as well as artists such as Yoshitomo Nara and Chris Johanson, Javier Calleja incorporates his unique techniques into contemporary portraiture, eventually finding his own signature through his large eye characters. Looking closely at the “banality” and “ordinariness” of our daily life, he incorporates humour and banter through text and drawings in his works. He plays with the scale, colours and perspectives of elements from our daily life, and throws us into a wonderland consisting of rather mundane items. Calleja’s ability to confront difficulties through insightful creativity, as well as his premise to approach any critical aspect with optimism, feeds the contagious fascination and empathy generated by his work.

Take a stroll with Mr. Günter around the gallery and discover incredible treasures in everyday life, as seen through the eyes of children. This show will unleash your inner child and creativity, and be a one-of-a-kind experience for friends and families!

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