feature: Javier Trelis

[this article was originally published 3/5/21]

Sempere took a shining to painting at an early age, venturing into the countryside of Alcoy, Spain to eagerly paint the nature surrounding him. Although Sempere is actually self-taught, he regards nature as the best of our teachers. Perhaps this is why he’s landed in a city that appears to be bathing in the Mediterranean Sea.  “A source of inspiration and dreams… the best escape”, Sempere describes his home town of Alicante, Spain.  

Sometimes having several pieces working simultaneously, Sempere never stops working. Depending on his mood and a piece’s complexity, he bounces around, taking them up little by little.  His materials of choice are sanguines and pastels atop poplar wooden boards, believing the knotted texture of the wood to be well suited for his paintings. “They have a life on their own,” Sempere says, “They are like windows on the outside world to observe some details, a unique and inimitable moment.”

Sempere draws inspiration largely from classical Greek and Roman sculptures of the Italian Renaissance and often references these when working on his nudes. In fact, one of Sempere’s main hobbies is reading historical novels about ancient Europe, from which many of his painted subjects are based.  It is easy to detect an admiration of the fantastical and mythological throughout his work.  Fauns, satyrs, and nymphs are all part of his magical reality.

Sempere has taken part in countless exhibitions throughout Europe and participated in numerous LGBTQ+ publications.  Altruistically, he regularly helps out local, national and international LGBTQ+ organizations, donating a number of his paintings to be auctioned.  The money raised is used to help people who face discrimination because of their age, origin or religion. 

He says of his work, “Many people think that art is a "hobby" but they don't realise that it is one of the most beautiful professions of humanity. It demands complete dedication. It has no timetable. It takes place in the morning, afternoon, evening, night, early morning and in our dreams. The true artist never retires, he works until an instant before his death.”

MORE WORK IN THE DANDY GALLERY
Javier Trelis Sempere

website :: www.javiertrelis-artista.com
instagram :: @trelisjavier
gallery :: artmajeur.com/trelisjavier
facebook :: facebook.com/javier.t.sempere

images provided by Javier Trelis Sempere