Rafel Bestard’s (1967) figurative works are essentially studies in classical French painting technique combined with contemporary aesthetics. Through the years his sensual, textural works have examined folklore and mythology in a dreamlike or disturbing fashion, weaving dream and nightmare, seduction and psychopathy.
"The beauty that emerges from Bestard’s paintings is always disturbing. The radical eroticism goes side by side with humoristic winks and, in the everyday sight, we see, simultaneously, the strength of desire and the frustrations of a fragile beast, sensitive and isolated. A dead bird closes our mouth. Silence. We are alone in front of the painting.”
Albert Lladó, art critic
Barcelona, May 2013
Bestard relates how his view of reality influences his work:
‘Well, there’s no doubt that there is some kind of real world outside our minds, but we know about it only through our experience - an experience that includes not only the direct information we receive through our senses, but also knowledge, memory, fantasy, imagination, dreams…. Conformism limits the experience of the world in every day life, but we can feel that there is something else, and that is just there, in the joints of the armored commonplace that imprisons us.
From my early days I wanted the painting to reveal something: A special world in which the appearance of absurdity gives way in which things are rebelling against the narrow range of meanings which have been embedded in a world that is becoming increasingly complex.
My work explores the relationship between fusion and fundamental opposites: Light and Shadow, Love and Death. Through a painting technique in which the tradition of the old masters, through influences as diverse as Bachelard philosophy and Kobayashi films, brings forth new representations of eternal concerns.’
EDUCATION
Fine Arts from the University of Barcelona, Faculty of Fine Arts of Saint Jordi, 1990.
EXHIBITIONS
2023
Duo exhibition, KIRK Gallery, Aalborg Denmark
2020
Rafel Bestard. Galerie Mokum, Amsterdam
2019
Rafel Bestard. Galerie Heissingsart, Berlin
Man or Rabbit. Galeria Contrast. Barcelona
2018
Infamous angel. Can Gelabert. Binnissalem
'We the Souls', KIRK Gallery, Aalborg Denmark
2017
'The Fall', KIRK Gallery
2016
Mokum Gallery, Amsterdam
2015
Touch a sore spot Galeria Contrast, Barcelona.
2014
Seguint la línia Draw group show, Galeria Contrast, Barcelona.
"Malerei”, juny. Heissingsart, Lübeck, Germany.
2013
Figuracions Draws Group Show, Galeria Contrast, Barcelona.
"Paisatge Interior”, maig. Galeria Contrast, Barcelona.
2009
Virtudes inconfesables, Galería Contrast, Barcelona.
Inadaptacions, Casal Solleric. Palma de Mallorca.
2006-2007 Obres
1998-2006, Mallorca.
2004 Son Tugores. Alaró.
2003 Pintures 02, Galería Horrach Moyá. Palma de Mallorca.
2016 KunstRai Amsterdam, Holland
2015 Realisme Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holland
2015 Scope Basel, lnternational Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland.
2015 Contemporary Istanbul, Turkey.
2014 Realisme Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holland.
2014 Scope Basel, lnternational Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland.
2014 Swab, Barcelona, Spain.
2014 Toronto International Art Fair, TIAF Toronto, Canada.
2013 Contemporary Istanbul, Turkey.
2013 Swab, Barcelona, Spain.
2012 Scope New York International Art Fair, New York, USA.
2012 Scope Basel, lnternational Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland.
2012 Toronto International Art Fair, TIAF Toronto, Canada.
2011 Scope Basel, lnternational Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland.
2011 Toronto International Art Fair, TIAF Toronto, Canada.
2010 Scope New York International Art Fair, New York, USA.
2010 Scope Miami, International Art Fair, Miami, USA.
2009 Watermarks. NDSM-werf, Amsterdam, Holland.
2008 The Beijing International Art Biennale. Beijing, China.
AWARDS
2012 1st Place, 10th Biennial de Artes Plásticas City of Albacete, Albacete.
2008 Premio adquisición VIII Bienal de Artes Plásticas City of Albacete, Albacete.
2008 Mención de Honor Premis Ciutat de Palma d’Arts Plástiques, Palma de Mallorca.
2007 Mención especial del jurado Premis Ciutat de Palma d’Arts Plastiques, Palma de Mallorca. 2007 1r.
Premio Premi Ciutat de Manacor d’Arts Plàstiques, Manacor.
2004 2° premio Certamen internacional de Pintura Vila de Binissalem, Binissalem.
2001 1r Premio Certamen de Pintura Dijous Bo, Inca.
1998 1r Premio XL Premi a la pintura jove, Sala Parés-Fund. Banc de Sabadell, Barcelona.