Alejandro Carballosa - “Pelagia”

Oil on canvas
Size: 55 x 46 cm
Description
In this work I have sought to deepen the idea of absolute surrender, that intimate moment in which the body ceases to struggle and finds, in movement and in silence, a form of fullness. The figure suspended over an ocean of intense blues does not represent only a swimmer; it is an image of concentration, discipline and harmony, but also a metaphor of the inner journey we all undertake in search of ourselves.

I have worked with a compact, almost circular composition, where the body folds in on itself in an attitude that to me symbolizes introspection and confidence. The absence of a visible face is not accidental; I wanted identity to disappear so that the emotion would remain. In this way, the figure becomes a universal reflection of human vulnerability and that deep need to find shelter in what connects us to our essence.

The turquoise and emerald tones of the surface contrast with the bluish purples of the depths, creating a dialogue between light and mystery, between serenity and the unknown. Through a loose, enveloping brushstroke, I have sought for the water to stop being a mere backdrop and become an emotional space, a place where time seems to stand still and where each movement acquires an almost meditative dimension.

For me, this work speaks of the beauty that exists in silent concentration, in discipline turned into poetry, and in the human capacity to find calm even in the midst of vastness. Water, an ancestral symbol of transformation and rebirth, acts here as a protective presence that embraces the figure and sustains it in a moment of perfect harmony.

Beyond the representation of a body in motion, I wanted to create a painting that invites contemplation and seclusion; a work that evokes the feeling of being suspended between surface and depth, between what is visible and the intangible, reminding us that, on occasions, it is precisely when we dive into our interior that we discover the true dimension of our freedom.

Alejandro Carballosa, Cuban artist and designer residing in Spain, with a career marked by the exploration of strength, emotion, and beauty in the animal and human figure. His work combines technical realism with a contemporary vision, where color, light, and movement acquire a symbolic and expressive language.

Trained in visual arts and design, he integrates the aesthetic sensibility of classical art with modern resources, creating pieces that balance energy and introspection.

His work has been presented in group and solo exhibitions, and is part of private collections in Germany and the United States
Education
Visual arts school and academy; sculpture technician, painter
University
Lic. in Scenic Design; ISA, Havana, Cuba, 2023
Graduated 2011
Workshop
2022. International Makeup Workshop taught by Italian master Piero Penisi
Exhibitions
2011. Iconographic Salon Nicolás Guillén. UNEAC, Las Tunas, Cuba
2011. Exhibition “Vástagos.” Provincial Center of Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2012. Martian Salon. Sculpture Workshop Gallery, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2012. Exhibition “Lithographs.” UNEAC, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2012. Exhibition “Final Integral Exercise.” Professional Academy of Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2013. Martian Salon. Huellas Cultural Center, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2013. Exhibition “La Víspera.” Provincial Center of Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2014. Salon “Guernica.” AHS, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2014. Salon “Plastic in April.” Provincial Center of Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2014. Collective Expo “Art, a Social Image.” Provincial Center of Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2017. First Salon of Plastic Arts. Guáimaro Art Gallery, Camagüey, Cuba.
2017. Collective Expo, Aires de Cubanía. Casa del Alba cultural, Havana, Cuba
2022. Thematic fashion show at ISA, University of Arts
2024 private collections in Germany and the United States