Contemporary British artist Ignacio Lalanne grew up in Buenos Aires. In his paintings we can glimpse traces of his rich South American heritage. It was there that he started his artistic journey. The death of his mother at an early age moved him to use the visual language to explore in depth our human condition and the existential questions we all ask ourselves. Art became a means of processing and perceiving reality.
People describe Ignacio’s paintings as exciting, beautiful and different. They are also very rich drawing on a variety of art traditions. Icons, Cuzco school of art, Mughal art, and Tudor court paintings are the main styles that resonate both in his art and life. Ignacio’s training and studies in London gave him a solid background in art history and techniques. First at Chelsea College of Art and Design and later Central Saint Martins where he graduated with a degree in Fine Art.
Equally important to him and his work as the formal education, or maybe more so, are his study trips. The contrasts of India. The vivid colours against arid landscapes. Poverty right next to exuberant wealth. It was there, living in Ashrams, that he first started exploring the binary opposites within ourselves searching for the essential which is invisible to the eye. In his art today we see that duality and especially the concepts of illusion and reality, superficiality and depth, as well as temporality and spirituality are central to his work.
If you visit his studio in London or take a look at the portfolio album online, you will notice how his art continues to evolve. Each exhibition and piece has a different yet unique Lalanne expression. He keeps deconstructing, exploring and experimenting with techniques, subjects and styles. He also builds on his foundation in art and its history through extensive research and studies. Never standing still, Ignacio’s artistic journey carries on with each new extraordinary work of art pushing his own boundaries. Each work revealing something more about the journey and our existence. Each work manifesting Ignacio’s innate creativity, passion and love.