Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) - El océano interior

Pictura Galeria presents this magnificent work of art by Miquel Torner de Semir, depicting a fantastical underwater world full of expressive fish and intense colors, as a symbol of diversity, imagination, vigilance, and inner emotions. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Frame dimensions: 73x53x4 cm.
· Work dimensions: 64x45 cm.
· Hand-signed pastel by the artist in the lower-left corner of the work, Miquel Torner de Semir.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.
· The work is sold with a precious frame and protective glass (included in the auction as a gift).

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the photographs included are an integral part of the lot description.

The work will be professionally packed by IVEX experts (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos or GLS with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents an imaginary marine universe inhabited by several creatures with angular shapes, enormous eyes, and intensely contrasted colors. In the central area a large reddish fish dominates, covered with violet, pink, blue, and white fragments, while a yellow, stylized creature seems to observe it from above. In the lower area another greenish fish with a restless gaze appears, surrounded by curved shapes suggesting water, rocks, and underwater organisms. The entire scene unfolds on a dark background in which blues, blacks, greens, and violets build a deep, dynamic, and mysterious atmosphere.

The central fish is the largest and most recognizable figure. Its body occupies much of the left half and extends diagonally toward the center. The head is oriented to the right, while the tail opens in the opposite direction. This arrangement conveys movement and makes it seem as if the creature is advancing through the currents.

Its body shows a wide variety of colors. Reds, garnets, pinks, and violets predominate, accompanied by white, yellow, blue, and orange fragments. The different chromatic zones distribute like imaginary scales or changing reflections. The fish seems to absorb all the colors of the underwater environment.

The eye of the central fish stands out for its circular shape and intense expression. It is surrounded by a black outline and contains a small yellow center that seems to glow amid the red tones. Its gaze is directed to the right and conveys attention, surprise, or mistrust. The large size of the eye lends personality to the creature.

Around the eye appear pink and violet shapes that accentuate the head structure. A red area extends toward the snout, while small dark bands define the mouth. The fish’s face has an almost human expression. It seems to be looking at something outside the composition or responding to the presence of the superior creature.

The mouth is narrow and pointed. Its black, gray, and orange contours project to the right. Although closed, its shape suggests tension or alertness. The fish seems to pause momentarily to examine the space ahead.

The upper part of the body is crowned by a series of triangular shapes. These figures resemble spines, fins, or fragments of a crown. The whites, pinks, blues, and violets alternate and create an ascending rhythm. Their presence gives a defensive and fantastic character.

Some of these spines are long and pointed, while others overlap to form small mountains. The dark outlines reinforce its silhouette against the background. The sequence of triangles seems to ripple with the movement of the water. The fish thus takes on a strong yet vulnerable appearance.

At the rear appears a broad tail formed by several sections. Its gray, violet, black, and white tones create a fan-like structure. The inner lines divide the tail and suggest folds or membranes. The downward tilt introduces a diagonal that visually propels the animal forward.

Next to the tail there is another sharp shape that could correspond to a second fin. Its clear lines stand out against the dark blues of the background. This area increases the complexity of the silhouette. The fish’s body does not seem completely natural, but built from imaginary fragments.

The lower part of the animal contains broad pink and white surfaces. On them appear small yellow, violet, and black accents. These colors contrast with the deep reds of the upper part. The alternation generates volume and makes the body seem to turn within the water.

The central fish can be interpreted as a wounded, transformed, or armored creature. Its chromatic fragments recall scars, scales, or accumulated memories. The alert expression reinforces this reading. The creature seems to have passed through an intense environment and to retain the traces of that experience.

In the upper right there is a second being of predominantly yellow tone. Its body is much slimmer and is organized around a large circular eye. A curved line descends and extends to the right, forming a light silhouette. Its appearance is mysterious and almost celestial.

The eye of this creature is composed of several concentric circles. Yellow, white, gray, black, and green successive rings surround a central point. This structure recalls a target, an enlarged pupil, or a small whirl. The gaze seems to be directed toward the reddish fish below.

Above the eye rises a red shape with points that recalls a crown or crest. This element adds authority and transforms the creature into a dominant presence. The intense reds contrast with the yellow head. It may seem like a sea king, a water bird, or a dream-born being.

A large yellow line curves above the creature and ends in a pointed shape to the right. It can be read as a fin, a horn, a tail, or a protective structure. Its arc frames the top. This luminous line stands out intensely against the black background.

At the very top there is a small vertical rounded shape connected to the large arc. Next to it rises a horizontal extension ending in a circle. These forms may recall antennae, navigation instruments, or limbs. The creature seems equipped to sense everything around it.

A very fine yellow line descends from the face and forms a curve resembling a smile or a filament. This extension softens the body’s geometry. Its direction to the right introduces a sense of movement. The creature seems to float above the main fish rather than swim conventionally.

Between the two animals appears a large rounded blue shape. It could correspond to a rock, a bubble, a fin, or part of a third creature’s body. Its dark blue tone adds depth and visually separates the upper yellows from the lower reds. This shape functions as a calm point within the intense composition.

In the lower right corner there is a third green fish. Its head occupies an important area and is oriented slightly upward. The large round eyes are very close together, creating a curious and surprised expression. The animal seems to observe the interaction taking place above it.

The eyes of this fish are surrounded by whites, grays, yellows, and blacks. One eye is fully visible, while the other is partially cut off by the right edge. This interruption suggests that the body continues outside the composition. The frontal gaze creates a direct connection with the viewer.

The snout is rounded and formed by greens, grays, violets, and small pinkish accents. Near the center appears an orange spot that stands out as a nose or a luminous scale. The mouth seems open and contains violet and dark circles. This expression adds a humorous and unsettling character.

The lower body extends to the left with a large green and yellow curve. On its surface appear red, blue, and violet areas suggesting scales or reflections. The tail or fin is lost near the bottom edge. The animal seems to emerge from a deeper part of the seabed.

In the lower-left corner another large red form with a circular outline is distinguished. Its interior contains pinks and garnets, while the blue edge separates it from the surroundings. It could correspond to a creature partially hidden, a rock, a plant, or an underwater organism. This ambiguity heightens the mystery.

Along the left edge there are large green and yellow areas that seem to wrap the central fish. Some form broad curves, while others project with vertical lines. They may recall seaweed, currents, or hidden animal bodies. The marine space seems full of partially visible presences.

The background is dominated by deep blacks and blues. On this darkness are distributed violet, green, turquoise, and red spots. These shapes do not create a recognizable underwater landscape, but they suggest rocks, plants, shadows, and water movements. Depth is built by color layering.

At the upper left there is a small yellow figure resembling coral, a jellyfish, or a sea plant. Its shape opens like a fan and stands out against the black background. Although a small detail, it introduces luminosity. It can also be interpreted as a signal or a distant creature.

Near the top a blue horizontal line extends across the darkness. This stripe could represent a current, a depth boundary, or a glint of light under the water. Its direction contrasts with the diagonals of the fish. The element discreetly organizes space.

On the right side there is an area of intense red forming an angular silhouette. Within it a small green triangular spot is distinguished. This combination may remind of another creature hidden among the shadows or a large underwater formation. Its presence balances the weight of the central fish.

The colors are distributed vibrantly and create strong contrasts. The yellows seem to emit light; the reds express energy and tension; the greens evoke life, growth, and adaptation; the blues convey depth; and the violets introduce mystery. Black unifies all these colors and heightens their intensity.

The vertical composition favors the accumulation of creatures at different levels. The yellow figure occupies the upper zone, the reddish fish dominates the center, and the green appears in the lower part. This arrangement may recall a submarine hierarchy. Each animal seems to inhabit a different depth.

Looks are one of the main links between the creatures. The yellow being watches from above, the central fish looks to the right, and the green fish directs its eyes forward. These directions create a network of attention and tension. It seems that everyone perceives something different within the same space.

The eyes, oversized, transform the fish into characters. They no longer seem like mere animals, but beings endowed with thought and emotions. They express surprise, caution, curiosity, and vigilance. This humanization allows imagining a hidden story among them.

The central fish could represent vulnerability and resilience. Despite its fragmented body and numerous spines, it maintains a firm gaze. It seems to advance within a world full of threats and strange presences. Its defensive appearance suggests the need to protect itself.

The yellow creature may symbolize vigilance, authority, or consciousness. Its large eye dominates the upper part and seems to watch everything. The crown-like shape reinforces this interpretation. It could be a guardian of the ocean or a being that governs the represented universe.

The green fish, for its part, introduces surprise and a certain innocence. Its frontal expression seems to ask what is happening. Its color relates it to life, growth, and adaptation. Located in the lower part, it may represent what emerges from the depths.

The scene can also be interpreted as a representation of the mind. Each creature would incarnate a thought, a fear, a memory, or a different impulse. The eyes would be symbols of awareness and vigilance, while the colors would show emotional intensity. The dark background would correspond to an interior territory difficult to understand.

Another possible reading sees the painting as a celebration of diversity. No fish has a conventional shape nor shares exactly the same colors. Each creature is unique, but all coexist within the same space. Difference becomes a source of energy and richness.

The abundance of forms prevents the gaze from resting. The curved outlines lead toward the eyes, the spines create upward movements, and color spots leap from one creature to another. Each area offers a new detail. The scene seems to be in constant transformation.

Despite its chaotic appearance, the composition maintains balance. The large red fish compensates the lower green figure, while the upper yellow provides luminosity. The dark masses surround the characters and prevent the colors from scattering. The entire universe is contained within an intense structure.

Overall, this painting represents an imaginary underwater world inhabited by fish and fantastical creatures with enormous eyes, fragmented shapes, and intense colors. The large reddish fish symbolizes resilience and vulnerability; the yellow being, vigilance and authority; and the green figure, curiosity and transformation. The reds, greens, yellows, blues, and violets turn the dark background into a space full of energy, mystery, and motion. The work can be understood as a celebration of diversity and imagination, but also as a representation of the inner world, where thoughts, fears, and emotions coexist in constant agitation.