NEO-EMOTIONALISMA Ten YeAr reTrospecTive

Fabian’s latest book is a stunning tribute to one of the 21st century’s outstanding artists.

This opulent collector’s item includes over 1,000 full colour photographs of paintings, editions, sculptures, studies, and pencil, pen and ink drawing. It functions as a catalogue raisonné,

representing a complete portfolio of the artist’s work.

in THe GALLerY noW

the official magazine of the artist

excLusive inTervieW • invesTmenT opporTuniTY • AT Home WiTH fAbiAn perez

UKtoUr

releasesnew

storieslife

photosUnseen

FABIAN PEREZ

insight 64An interview with our favourite artist!

mUsic of the night 38Music has always been important to Fabian and pervades both his life and his artwork

sKetch show 34Every artwork starts somewhere…

proUd to be a man 30Antonio Perez was an inspirational figure for his son

family gUy 24The most important relationships in Fabian’s life

celebrity connections 14Actors, musicians, sporting heroes…Fabian’s work is collected by the great and the good from all walks of life

on toUr with fabian 10A flying visit to the UK earlier this year delighted fans all over the country

freeze frame 62The lighting and compositional skills of a seasoned cinematographer…

after hoUrs 56Life after dark in Buenos Aires is an endless source of ideas for Fabian

an italian joUrney 54A traditional mecca for artists, Italy was Fabian’s inspirational home for seven years

martial artist 52Disciplined Karate training has had a strong impact on Fabian’s approach to his art

sporting life 48From Olympic appointments to portraits of World Cup stars

my favoUrite things 46What would you buy Fabian for his birthday? Here are some clues and ideas

Fabian’s stunning bronze sculptures add depth and gravitas to his collection

casting characters 58Seeing the world through innocent eyes can change your view dramatically, says Fabian

trUe romance 32

First pictures of the magnificent ranch where Fabian’s family like to spend some quality time

home on the ranch 18

the romance, experience the passion, encounter the powerful artwork, and enter the intoxicating world of fabian perez.

discover...

Fabian’s powerful and virtuosic paintings have won him international acclaim and countless prestigious awards and accolades. His reputation and the sheer impact of his compositions have established him as the most exciting figurative artist on the contemporary scene and his massive worldwide success shows no signs of abating.

This long overdue landmark publication has been created in response to overwhelming demand from Fabian’s thousands of collectors and fans both here in the UK and internationally. As well as reflecting his stature as both an award-winning contemporary artist and a major figure on the world stage, this magazine aims to provide an insight into the life and loves of this sensitive and charismatic modern master.

rhythm of the dance 42The romance, the passion and the exotic beauty of Latin dance makes it an irresistible subject for Fabian

the premiere collection 04Fabian’s exciting new releases represent a master at the height of his powers

02 03

The Premiere ColleCTionFabian’s latest collection conFirms his position as one oF the Foremost Figurative artists oF our time and an exceptional global entity.

THE EMBrACE II

EL VErSO IV

All artists move and progress on their artistic journeys and Fabian is no exception to this. Over the years he has explored many different paths in his search for greater self expression and artistic truth. His new collection brings together a broad range of life stories drawn from many sources close to his heart. From the geisha of Japan’s flower towns to the couples who haunt the night clubs of Buenos Aires, all these characters have a story to tell of their disparate and intriguing lives.

04 05

SABA On THE STAIrS

BLUE AnD rED III

As always the men in the collection are suave and enigmatic. Although they sometimes provide a foil for the glamour of the women, they also have a strong character in their own right. As well as the cool and detached loner with his cigarette there is romance here, and we see the charming side of these charismatic figures. The warmth and humanity of Fabian’s female subjects is as central to his images as their beauty and seductiveness. Like Toulouse Lautrec, whose vibrant but humorous portrayals of the Moulin rouge can-can dancers offered us a uniquely intimate view of these extraordinary women, it is Fabian’s closeness to the reality of his subjects that sets him apart from other artists who might paint such figures from a greater distance. In the case of the male figures again they are based around the truth of his own life and the people he has encountered, in the first instance, his own father.

This powerful new collection of hand embellished canvas editions demonstrates the power and the passion of a master of the genre.

THE EMBrACE III

STUDy FOr TErESSA

SUMMEr rAIn II

LOrI WITH BLACK HAT

MAn In BLACK SUIT

06 07

characterised by a dramatic narrative style and heady atmosphere, each oF his works has a Fascinating and unusual setting based on his own personal history.

SEE IT... LOVE IT... OWN IT...For as little as £50 per month you can acquire a fabulous piece of art.

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Many of Fabian’s life experiences combine in this extraordinary new collection, including the time he spent in Japan. After seven years of study in Italy, Fabian moved to Japan to continue both his painting and his Karate training. The country introduced him to a whole range of cultural references, and one which made a particular impact on him was the exotic beauty of the geisha. Known locally as

these exquisite figures still feature in Fabian’s work today. These are two of the most striking in the Premiere Collection. Fabian says:

“I like to paint geishas, courtesans, escorts from different parts of the world; they move like cats: sensual, smooth and achieving a lot with minimal effort. They are like queens born in the wrong place.” During his time in Japan, Fabian travelled to Tokyo and Okinawa, and experienced an amazing period of both personal and artistic growth. Coming into contact with the ancient art of Shodo affected Fabian’s approach in a lasting way, refining his compositional technique and his immaculate mastery of light and shadow.

MICHIKO II

WomenFlowerTownsof the

Fabian has suspended his distinctive colour palette in some of his pieces and has chosen to explore a monochrome world, with the only source of colour being the dashing red of his trademark signature. As with all his work however, these powerful images are characterised by the passionate narrative style and an intoxicating atmosphere that have made his art so recognisable.

MICHIKO WITH WHITE UMBrELLA

08 09

InTIMATE MOMEnTS IV (BLACK AnD WHITE)

THE EMBrACE II (BLACK AnD WHITE)

WITH FABIANON TOUR

Fabian is enjoying unparalleled success at present with all of his work, original and published, receiving a rapturous reception both in the UK and internationally.

The accolades continue to roll in, the latest being the prestigious Artist of the Year 2014 award from the Italian Academy of Artists and the highly coveted Art Tour International Magazine Master of Contemporary Art award.

This means that when he jets into the UK for a gallery tour the nation’s media, critics and collectors sit up and take notice. His last UK tour was a national sensation. Fabian made personal appearances at several of the country’s leading fine art galleries where he unveiled his powerful collection ‘Por la Noche’

Famously brilliant at evoking the sights and sounds of Buenos Aires by night, Fabian surpassed himself with the diversity, technical execution and allure of these pieces, beguiling British art lovers with his captivating portraits, and signing copies of his magnificent new commemorative book, ‘neo-Emotionalism.’

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Fabian’s superstar status as an artist combines with his outrageous good looks and charming personality to ensure that any event he attends is guaranteed to be a memorable one. These occasions attract collectors from all over the country, from first time buyers to serious collectors and more than a handful of celebrities, as they represent an exciting opportunity to come and chat to Hollywood’s hottest artistic property.

At one gallery in Mayfair, comedian John Bishop bought four of Fabian’s artworks – quite a collection!

As one gallery manager commented: “Despite his formidable reputation in the art world, his warm personality has made him a great favourite with all of us, and he is always happy to sign artwork or pose for photographs…a lovely guest.”

“When I’m on tour in England I visit many different cities

and meet a lot of people; it is extremely rewarding to meet

collectors and talk to them about how they relate to my work.

These days are like a trophy for me that I win from my hard work

during the year!”

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AvAiLAbLe noW

THeneWcoLLecTion

13

C o n n e C t i o n s

Fabian is one of the world’s most collectable artists. While talent, creativity and artistic integrity are clearly more important than celebrity collectors, it can be interesting to know that your favourite artwork is also on the walls of some of the most famous names in showbiz, sport and politics.

His admirers range from sporting superstars including Sugar Ray Leonard, Shaquille O’Neal and Lionel Messi, to Grammy Award winning rock star Scott Weiland, singers Rihanna, Juan Gabriel and Shakira, Latin recording Academy President Gabriel Aboroa, comedian John Bishop and actors Micky Rourke, Mario Lopez and Megan Fox.

When the Latin recording Academy® announced that Fabian had been commissioned to produce the official image for the 10th Latin GrAMMy Awards the worldwide response to his work was overwhelming.

At the grand unveiling in LA, President Gabriel Abaroa said: “Fabian’s work captures the excitement and passion of the performer – a perfect 10 year celebration!”

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Home

It is here that Fabian and his family chose to make their home from home, on a magnificent ranch where they spend their holidays and weekends.

For this seemingly most urban of painters, it is perhaps a surprising choice. yet Fabian confesses that he does his best work here, where he can step back from other people, take time to meditate on the important things in life, and pick up his brush at peace with the world. For him, the ranch represents a place to breathe; a place in which he and his family can be together working and playing, eating and drinking, walking and riding, and naturally, painting.

Two hours drive away from the glamorous but seething cityscape that is Los Angeles lies some of the most beautiful and romantic wine country in America.

Ranchon the

Fabian says: “It is really relaxing and necessary for me to allow my mind to be open to new ideas. These are the times when I can break out of my routine and go back to the source – get back in touch with the essential things in life including the perfection of nature.

“We grow our own food, all kinds of fruit and vegetables – lettuce, tomatoes, figs… We had a bumper harvest this year and my wife and kids made marmalade from apricots and pears. We also keep chickens and eat our own fresh eggs. My daughter and I are both so into horses, so we love to take some time out to go riding together. Good things – some of the best things in life

in fact! My studio has the most beautiful view of the mountains and always takes me to the place I want to be when I paint. I sit and meditate on the mountain top every day when we are at the ranch”

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“You have to look for your own place in this world, and when

you find it you belong to it. The right place will give you so

much emotionally...”

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The ranch had belonged to Jack Palance and his wife Elaine until he died. Jack Palance was an American actor well known for his cowboy movies. During half a century of film and television appearances, he was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor. This was so nostalgic for me because I remember as a kid watching his movies with my mom and my dad, we were big fans!

Today, the studio Jack used as a place in which to write and also to paint for fun, is where I do my work. I can see why he loved it. It’s surrounded by organic agricultural land and wineries. One of my dreams is to have my own winery one day in the future.

In one of his later movies, Jack played a contented old rancher who passes on some of his wise words to three city slickers who are all looking for what he seems to have.

One of them asks him if he knows the secret of happiness and he replies that yes he does – “it’s just one thing” says Jack. “What’s the thing?” asks the city boy. “I don’t know what yours is” answers Jack – “I only know my own.”

It’s a great secret to know, and the ranch has helped me to find my own answer.”

“An interesting story I can share about the ranch is that we were searching for it for many years.

I really wanted to give my kids the opportunity to be in touch with nature and learn that there is much more out of the city. Like a lot of parents I guess I wanted them to have those things that were perhaps missing from my own childhood. We were looking at many ranches and lands and nothing was what Lucy and I were hoping to find.

Suddenly this place appeared and as soon I put my feet on the ranch I felt that peace that told me – ‘this is the place’.

American Actor Jack Palance

“ The RancH is the place where I can

cleaR mY mInd before I begin To painT. ”

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His mother, Edua Herreria, a beautiful Brazilian women, met his father Antonio, a handsome and charismatic ladies’ man, in the late 1950s in Campana, a small city outside Buenos Aires.

They married and had four children of whom Fabian is the youngest. His parents were involved in their children’s lives in very different ways.

Edua was the creative force in Fabian’s life and Antonio was the inspiration for his work. Fabian witnessed his father’s unorthodox and often difficult life, portraying him in his original paintings as “the cool guy” outside nightclubs and bordellos.

As one of four children himself, Fabian was used to a crowded environment brimming with life and energy and he and his wife Lucy have built up a similarly warm and busy world in their own home. Lucy describes their three children, Camila, Tiago and Santino as “the beautiful princess and the little fighters”, and these enchanting little characters offer their father a wealth of inspiration and encouragement.

Mi esposa , Mi vida ,

Mi amor , Mi musaFamily Guyfamily has always taken centre stage in fabian’s life.

When Fabian wrote about his wife in his most recent book, he said:

“When I wake up every day, I open my eyes and see my wife Luciana sleeping and from that moment for the rest of the day, all my preoccupations are diminished and I can enjoy the moments of my life even more.”

No wonder that in the same book she describes her life with him as “a fairytale”!

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The self portrait is a unique genre, offering an insight into the mind of the artist like no other. Self-portraits are fascinating and engrossing, as whatever they are aiming to portray they tell us a huge amount about the artist. Fabian says:

“When I painted my portrait ‘Untitled’ as a young man, what I wanted to show was a physical likeness of myself, but it reflected how I saw myself at the time, rather than necessarily how others saw me. Similarly, in ‘Untitled II’, when I portrayed myself

as an older man, I wanted to reflect the way I felt inside in that period of my life, weighed down by my experience. Sometimes as an artist you feel in some way like an outsider and this is another element I have chosen to show in the self portraits.

It can be difficult to position yourself alongside other people – not by your own choice, but as an artist you must sometimes stand outside and deliberately remove yourself from the daily environment.

At certain periods of my life this has led me to be a solitary

and independent individual, living my own life in my own way, and you can see this clearly in the work. I used the white hair as a sign of experience because although I was a young person, I felt I had had many experiences in my life, some good some bad, more than you would expect for a person of that age.

ThE bOdy IS a TOOL fOr mE TO paINT ThE SOuL…whether my own or someone else’s. It Is the

attItude – what they are thInkIng and feelIng - that I try to convey,

““

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so These Are honesT porTrAiTs ThAT TeLL Their own sTory.

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Fabian’s late Father antonio Features as

‘the cool guy’ outside the nightclubs or

sitting in a darkened bar in many oF

Fabian’s images. While his women are painted with warmth and

humanity the men are always characterised by a more dark and enigmatic tone, taking

us back to that unsettling childhood of unpredictable characters who seem

both relaxed and watchful.

Fabian's father A

ntonio...

was a fascinating figure. He owned an array of illegal bordellos and nightclubs and was a gambler.

To this day, Fabian remembers the police coming to their home looking for his father who would try to escape through the back door. “So many times he went to jail. I remember when I was very young going to police stations and looking for him.” Eventually his father gave up the business, lost everything and lapsed into depression. yet he was still a hugely inspirational figure in some of his son’s greatest work.

Many of the women Fabian paints are based on his memories of those he saw at his father’s bordellos and nightclubs, and he captures their beauty and sensuality with the unique insight of someone who really knew and understood them.

to be aProudman

It could be argued that Fabian’s own life experiences dominate his paintings and that each one offers an insight into the mind of the man himself. His personal history could not have failed to have an impact on his oeuvre, and his own experiences and relationships seem to speak out from every brushstroke, nowhere more clearly than in his portraits of these charismatic male figures.

Interestingly, this personal touch introduces an element of poignancy, almost nostalgia, into an otherwise coolly stylish composition.

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…this is the kind of language used by critics discussing Fabian’s atmospheric portrayals of life after dark in Buenos Aires. Yet Fabian himself has described his stunning figurative paintings as “romantic”.

When questioned on this unexpected choice of word he explained:

“It’s not the actual subjects of my work that are romantic – it’s more about me, the artist. I am so often painting remembered scenes and situations from my childhood, at a time when experience had not yet taught me the ways of the world and I was an innocent child. At this time I rarely understood the implications of what I saw on the streets or in certain unlawful establishments, and I believed I was looking at love, affection, and genuine romance. In some ways I

Intoxicating...passionate...seductive...…

“often ImItated, but never realIsed, fabIan has an arTISTIc STyLE ThaT IS uNIquE – the embodIment of hIs journey through lIfe so far.”

true romance

think I paint these sophisticated women through the admiring eyes of my younger self; in my heart I’m always waiting, and hoping, for the romance to come back.

“I developed my work in a time that, from my point of view, is much more romantic than the present day – perhaps the 1950s. A time when a man would take pride in fixing

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his tie and women would follow a routine of slow sensual movements which could seduce a man just by lighting a cigarette.”

For some artists, sketches serve as initial visual notes – a few simple marks to quite literally sketch the outline of a concept. For others they provide a means of working out the composition before embarking on the painting; a way to clarify intentions and plan execution. Fabian uses his sketches in both these ways, but they also have a more emotional function as for him, sketching is quite simply a compulsion.

The sketches appear wherever he goes, created on any material he can lay his hands on when inspiration strikes – a spontaneous outpouring of creative expression. This gives these pieces an extraordinary intensity and renders each one a complete work of art in its own right.

MEDIA SPEAK

Fabian has experimented with a broad range of media over the years. recently he has been exploring the world of watercolour which traditionally brings a more muted tone to an image and has a softer look. In these watercolour works however, Fabian has demonstrated that these generalities are not always the case, as his technique, skill and patience with this demanding medium has created a uniquely distinctive compositional style. The radiance, the intrigue and the atmosphere which are not conventional attributes of watercolour works are all still very

DiffErEnt PAintS will givE A DiffErEnt tyPE of chArActEr to thE SubjEct of thE PAinting AnD cAn EvoKE wiDEly DiffEring EmotionAl rESPonSES from A givEn AuDiEncE.

Sketch The sketch is an essential tool with which to capture the ‘unposed pose’Show

much in evidence. So while Fabian had a very different experience creating them, we have the same fully engaging experience when we see the final, luminous creation.

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Art Cover for the Art LoverAs a fine art collector you need to be able to display your artwork with complete peace of mind.

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i t ’ s o f f i c i a l ! 2014 Artist of the YeAr the ACAdemY of itAliAn Artists

Another triumph this year for Fabian was being named as a contemporary master by the major American magazine ‘Art Tour International’, celebrating the excellence of his work and his contribution to the arts.

2014 mAster of ContemporarY Art Art tour internAtionAl mAgAzine

“The works of Fabian Perez are of the highest artistic and expressive value, and we consider his art unique. His art is like grammar in which you read all the beauty of the greatest art in every way. Fabian Perez is a contemporary artist destined to leave his footprints in his own lifetime, like few artists in the world.”

Carmela russo (Academy President)

WH Y I NVE ST

i n fa b i a n

p e r e zbY helen swAbY

I have been deeply privileged to have worked with Fabian personally for many years, and it has always been quite clear to me that he is something out of the ordinary.

For an individual to have any one of his extraordinary attributes,

the raw artistic talent, the film star good looks, or the fascinating and romantic back story, would be enough to set them apart; but he combines all three in one charismatic and incomparable whole.

Art has famously bucked the economic trends over some difficult years, and Fabian’s work is a prime example of this as demand for his original paintings in particular has soared. Such is the power of his oeuvre and his influence on the world stage, that Fabian has

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been the instigator of a new movement in the art world, neo-Emotionalism, which assures his place at the forefront of 21st century art for many years to come.

Fabian’s international cachet has long been established with many prestigious appointments but it is the future more than the past which holds the real excitement for the collecting community. Despite his extraordinary status he is still a young man, and such is his passion and drive that one gets a sense that he is still only at the beginning of his artistic journey.

His next major project is working towards a rare government funded public museum exhibition in his homeland of Argentina, and he looks likely to be the artist of choice for an Olympic residency in rio.

musico f t h e n i g h t

Music and rhythm are recurring themes throughout Fabian’s work;

All we need is a

few guitars and la

juerga (the party)

begins.

“

“whether the subject is dancing or simply smoking on a balcony. This complete understanding of the tempo and cadences of the human body owes much to his own musicianship which is hugely important to him and connects with his artwork on a profound level.

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Sometimes music is front and centre, such as when he paints dancers, musicians or guitars, but often it is implied in the background of a bar or balcony scene by the stance of the figures. The constant presence of rhythm pervades every image, regardless of

LATIN GRAMMY AWARDsIn 2010 Fabian was named as official artist to the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards – a huge and well deserved honour.

The music paintings range from detailed studies of instruments to intimate portraits of parties, close friends and even self portraits with a guitar. Despite the diversity of the approach to each piece, they all convey the passion of the performers for the music they are creating with understanding and affection.

“I paint musicians because it is my dream to be a really good guitar player. My dearest friends are musicians – their band is called Calé. They perform during my solo exhibitions in California and add an incredible element to the atmosphere of the event. All we need is a few guitars at my place or at one of our friends’ homes and la juerga (the party) begins.”

Below: Fabian with neil Portnow, president of the recording Academy and Gabriel Abaroa, president of the Latin recording Academy at the press conference for the unveiling of the original painting commissioned for the 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards 2010.

Calé is a flamenco fusion band based in Los Angels, whose irresistible blend of traditional Spanish guitar and Latin rhythms sits beautifully alongside Fabian’s Art.

Their first album cover featured Fabian’s now famous image of the guitar resting against a simple chair, casting its shadow across the floor of a darkened room – waiting for the music to come back….

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These two very different dances are a major part of his personal heritage, flamenco from his Spanish father, and tango from the local culture of the barrios where he grew up. Each dance has a very distinctive style, purpose and impact, but both make equally powerful subjects for Fabian.

There is a strong improvisational and creative element to flamenco, as no dance is set in stone, but rather each evolves from the spontaneous expression of the performer’s emotions at any given time. In a flamenco performance, the dancer (bailaora) will often stand motionless, absorbing the rhythm of the guitar, the clapping and the singing, waiting until the moment is right. She will then begin her passionate response to the music and the atmosphere.

The dancer’s role is to physically interpret the words, which often express the great lament of the persecuted gypsy communities in which the dance first grew up. The light, graceful arm movements contrast with the reverberating steps as her feet drill into the floor with almost bewildering intensity. The flamenco is a key subject for Fabian, and there are clear parallels between his paintings and the dance on every level, not least in that both represent the creative outpouring of a passionate emotional response to life.

rhythmdanceOf ThE

fabian has a deep and heartfelt connection with both the flamenco and the tango.

Fabian says: “I like to paint the gypsy dancer because I grew up in a neighbourhood where thirty percent were gypsies. What makes this community so special to me is the fact that they showed me you do not need to have material possessions to be happy; that those who possess more are not richer, but rather those whose needs are less are perhaps the richer. More important than how much you have is who you choose to share it with.”

“For me the flamenco dancer is a symbol of a woman proud to be a woman, with all the advantages. Sensual but strong. Courageous. They give me the sensation that they can take care of any situation in life…”

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If flamenco has come to symbolise the individual’s outpouring of their soul, then tango is perhaps the opposite, a dance of almost aggressive passion; here the individual is subsumed in the searing heat of an intimately shared moment – duality is all.

Although it epitomises the glamour and elegance of high society, with women in sleek glittering evening gowns and men in tuxedos, the tango is thought to have originated in a very different world. As immigrants from Europe, Africa and ports unknown streamed into the outskirts of Buenos Aires during the 1880’s, many gravitated toward the city’s houses of ill repute. In these establishments, the ‘portenos’ could drown their troubles in a few drinks and find some companionship.

They looked desperately for a distraction to ease their sense of rootlessness and disfranchisement as strangers in a strange land. From this heady, intermingled cultural brew emerged a new music which became the tango.

Though musical historians argue as to its exact origins, it is generally accepted that the tango borrowed from many nations: the relentless rhythms that African slaves beat on their drums,

the popular music of the pampas (flatlands) known as the milonga, which combined Indian rhythms with the music of early Spanish colonists, and other influences, including Latin. Some say the word ‘tango’ comes from the Latin word tangere (to touch).

When Juan Peron rose to power in 1946 the tango reached a high point of popularity in Argentina, as both he and his wife Evita embraced it wholeheartedly. yet, with Evita’s death in 1952, it fell from the mainstream spotlight, seeming out of step with its times. Today it is enjoying a renaissance, and its sultry intensity makes it a wonderful subject for Fabian.

parTNErS IN paSSION

“Even though I appreciate Tango, I never try to dance it. I paint Tango dancers as a tool to show people in real life situations: how someone can live a life so intense, loving another person even if they are completely unattainable and that passion is unrequited.”

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favourite thingsHe might be our favourite artist, but who is Fabian’s…?

Pablo Picasso has of course been a massive influence on 20th and 21st century art. Fabian was struck when he read that Picasso had said “When someone is painting they should return to being a child”, as he often sees the world through the eyes of his own childhood. He admires Picasso’s “versatility and determination”.

artist: picasso

One of the most influential rock albums of all time by the iconic British band. The great guitar playing of Jimmy Page is a little different from the flamenco sounds we tend to associate with Fabian.

albUm: led zeppelin ii

This 1975 Italian language film is a critically acclaimed and dark examination of war, honour, family and, ultimately, what we will do to survive. It was feted for its extreme artistry.

This extraordinary book explores the central messages of Buddhism including how to train the mind through meditation, how to follow a spiritual path in this day and age, and the practice of compassion.

film: booK:

An unexpected choice yet for Fabian, white is essential to allow his characters to emerge out of the darkness and into the light.

coloUr: white

The actor who is famous for many things, but perhaps most of all for his unswerving commitment to his art…

actor: robert de niro

The classic artist’s city, Venice is more than that to Fabian who lived there for seven years, and still paints scenes informed by that part of his life.

city: venice

holiday: the caribbean

view: the ocean

“The sheer distance of the horizons gives you so much space to think and to allow your creativity free rein.”

The music, the dancing, the heat, the atmosphere but mainly time with the family – it’s a home from home!

my

season: sUmmer

When everything heats up and the world becomes a more passionate place…

drinK: red wine or scotch

With the obligatory mixer of good friends.

The dance of choice in Fabian’s home, this one is lively and rhythmic, more impromptu and fun than the more serious tangos and flamencos that we associate with his artwork.

dance: brazilian samba

Much admired for his ‘magical realist’ style, this nobel Prize-winning Columbian author captures the spirit of Latin America, perhaps using his words in the way that Fabian uses paints.

writer: gabriel garcia marqUez

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When Argentina hosted the Copa America in 2011 there was massive excitement all over the country.

This annual competition pits South America’s footballing nations against each other in a hard fought battle for supremacy amongst some of the greatest national teams in the world.

The Argentinean hosts took their responsibilities seriously. They approached Fabian who is undoubtedly the country’s greatest living artists and asked him if he would consider becoming involved. He was delighted and not only painted this picture for the Argentinean team, but also designed the most valued player trophy for the tournament.

copa america

Fabian has always enjoyed painting a diverse array of subjects and sport has been an important part of his artistic life.

He is a keen soccer player, and as the World Cup showed, that is really starting to mean something in the USA! not surprisingly, there are several sporting legends amongst Fabian’s distinguished coterie of celebrity collectors, including Lionel Messi, one of the world’s greatest footballers and a compatriot of Fabian’s. This extraordinary portrait by Fabian is in Messi’s personal collection – a mutual bond of admiration exists between these two men who are both at the top of their respective games! The passionate style, technical brilliance and impact of this portrait are overwhelming. The accuracy with which Fabian has captured the player’s famous features and expression give it an instant impact and appeal, while the multiple layers of oils used to build up skin tone and shadow give it literal as well as artistic depth.

While accolades, trophies and financial rewards are all good, nothing can match an official shirt, dedicated to your three children and signed by your national football hero, Lionel Messi.…

…Unbeatable!

“For Tiago, Camila and Santino, with affection....

Leo”

local hero

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The 2012 Olympics in London were a cause for celebration all over the world, and Fabian’s personal response was to paint this unique tribute to a great city and a great tradition. His arresting depiction of Hercules towering over Westminster Bridge was sold within an hour of its unveiling in Mayfair.

olympic dreams

Fabian’s pedigree as a sporting artist was confirmed in 2010 when he was appointed as official artist to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This appointment led to some heartfelt and emotional tributes to the preparation and dedication of the athlete, in particular ‘In God’s Hands’ and to the Olympic ideal in ‘Five Continents, One World’ which came to represent the Games to the world. The five continents piece, inspired by the Olympic rings, had a huge emotional impact when it was released. The rings are of course the primary symbol of the Games and have been since 1912 when the design was originally created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, co-founder of the modern Olympics. The romantic view of de Coubertin’s design is twofold: the five colours are thought to represent the national flags of the competing countries, (and still today every flag contains at least one of them), and the interlocking rings were inspired by interlaced marriage rings and symbolised continuity and humanity. The current view of the International Olympic Committee is that the symbol reinforces the idea that the Olympic Movement is international and welcomes countries from all five regions of the world to join in. Whatever the original idea was behind this powerful symbol, it inspired Fabian to create a compelling and emotional tribute to the Olympic ideal.

Equally moving is this atmospheric portrait which again demonstrates Fabian’s extraordinary ability to capture compressed emotional energy and passion. The young skier is about to embark on perhaps the most important few minutes of his life and sporting career, and is taking a moment to gather himself. His raised eyes and the pictures on the wall behind him confirm what the title tells us – he has done all he can and now has to leave his future ‘In God’s Hands’.

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"There is a total

identification be

tween what he is and what he d

oes"…

For all of you devoted fans out there, remember, the best way to keep in

touch with Fabian’s latest artwork, tour dates, news and gossip is to register on

his website, like him on facebook and follow him on twitter!

So many ways to make sure you don’t miss a thing…! Visit the website today to discover more about Fabian’s

extraordinary background and his path to international success while exploring

the full range of his intoxicating artwork, then register to be kept up to

date with his UK tours and events.

visitfabianperez.co.UK

www.twitter.com/FabianPerez_Art

www.facebook.com/FabianPerezArt

fabian has a great passion for Karate and has become a master and teacher over the years. The discipline and training helped him through one of the most difficult times in his life.

At the age of 16 Fabian was faced with the loss of his mother and 3 years later the loss of his father. The sadness and despair he experienced left him confused and searching for answers. In 1984 he crossed paths with the man who was to be the greatest inspiration of his life - Sensei Oscar - who later became his teacher, master, close friend, and father figure. The young Fabian found strength and a degree of inner peace through the study of Karate which has since become an important part of his life.

ARTISTMartial

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Oscar says “To speak about Fabian Perez is, for me, to speak of the disciple and the loyal and unconditional friend, besides the successful creative artist he is today. I firmly believe that Fabian’s paintings - beyond his innate talent - have been influenced by his martial arts practice. The characteristic determination and firmness of his brushstrokes, but at the same time the fluidity and smoothness of the movement, demonstrates to me that he has found a way of unifying what he is and what he paints. In other words he has achieved that level of self knowledge that is necessary in Karate to master both your inner creativity and sensitivity and to harness it into a physical manifestation – in Fabian’s case, a powerful and beautiful painting.”

The city entranced him and he has created many atmospheric pieces set against this unmistakable and romantic backdrop.

When the young Fabian followed his Martial Arts guru to Italy in 1988 he little knew that he would be staying for seven years during which he would take the first significant steps on his journey towards artistic greatness. As with many artists before him, he was captivated by Venetian history, architecture, glamour and beauty.

As well as providing the setting for many of his early works, the Venetian experience left an indelible mark on Fabian’s artistic memory, and the intrigue and drama of the Carnival masquerades has informed both his subject and style for over 25 years. He took another step on his Italian journey earlier this year when the Accademia degli Artisti named him as their Artist of the Year – an extraordinary accolade for a non-Italian and one which Fabian was delighted and honoured to receive.

Fabian enjoys a sPecial relationshiP with italy having sPent seven years living just outside venice.

Journeyitalian

an

Luciano Pavarotti: A private commission in 2003 now held in a private collection.

Pope Francis: Fabian says: “I am a spiritual person but I have never been involved in any kind of organised religion. I admire Pope Francis though and would love to be able to meet him and to give him the original of his portrait face to face.” The portrait now hangs in the cathedral of Cordoba which is the second largest city in Argentina.

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Camaraderie is an important concept in Fabian’s work, and this is often symbolised by glasses raised in a moment of solidarity or celebration, or more than one glass placed on a bar with a bottle.

These interior paintings, some of them figurative, some still life, are characterised by painterly brushstrokes, a density of texture, and intense colour and depth. But within the darkness there is always light, and this is a concept that Fabian examines very closely in these works. His radiant figures move through their nocturnal world, yet seem to seek and draw in all the available light before reflecting it back out of the canvas.

Fabian says: “I enjoy the bohemian nightlife everywhere I go. When I come back to my studio I recreate my memories and paint from them, as I

“This painting of the gates to the cellar standing open holds out the promise of a treasure trove of fine wine waiting to be discovered!”

never like to go around with my easel. I like to live experiences and then paint them afterwards in my studio. If you paint a glass of whisky, you should have been drinking it.”

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These powerful, large scale works add depth and gravitas to an already outstanding oeuvre, as he proves himself to be as adept in three dimensions as in two.

He says: “I constantly seek in the sculpture what I seek in a painting: rhythm, texture, expression, proportion, essence and soul.”

Fabian creates his sculpture using the traditional lost wax method, an ancient process which dates from the third millennium BC. The sculptor creates the original figure in

wax, then coats it with plaster in order to make a mould.

The wax is then heated and poured away leaving the hollow mould ready to be used in the casting of the pure bronze sculpture. The work may then

be finished by hand, and Fabian has used a

unique and spectacular green-tinted patina

Each piece has then been mounted on a black granite base to ensure that it

is perfectly balanced for display.

castIngc h a r a c t e r s

atmosphere which are his hallmark.

Each of fabian’s magnificent bronze sculptures is based on his own originalideas and photographs and captures the emotional impact, imagination and

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invest in originAl pAintings bY fAbiAn perez

Contact the gallery to discuss the opportunity to

A t I t S F I n e S t

F I n e A R t

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…the much painted ‘Man in Black Suit’ who represents the artist’s charismatic father, and the universal woman who stands for passion and desire, yet radiates warmth and humanity. Fabian says: “When I started the sculptures it was like a hobby, but over time I realized that I felt the same passion for sculpture as for painting, because even though they are very different, in the end both are a work of artistic expression.” Each sculpture is accompanied by a beautiful certificate of authenticity assuring its quality and legitimacy. The certificates are signed, numbered and thumb-printed by the artist, and are presented in a handmade leather portfolio. These sculptures will endure through generations and be passed on as a legacy from one of the 21st century’s most exceptional and influential artists.

These mesmerizing pure bronze sculpTures breaTh life inTo Two keyfigures from fabian’s personal sTory...

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FreezeFrAMe

Each Of fabIaN’S paINTINgS OffErS a gLImpSE Of cOmpLEx

EmOTIONS, ShOT ThrOugh WITh ThE purEST SImpLIcITy

Of cOmpOSITION – ThE hINT Of a mOVEmENT, Or a carEfuLLy rELaxEd pOSE.

admIT ONE

EL VErSO

yet they always demand that the viewer forms their own interpretation of the before and the after: creating their own backstory that synchronises a narrative with the artist’s own snapshot of time – like a single frame from a dramatic, or perhaps romantic movie.

There is a definite sense of the classic film noir to the black and white images, but many of the colour paintings are equally cinematic in mood. There is a lot of black in the background in order, Fabian says, to leave people spaces to fill from their own imagination. “When you put black spaces in an artwork, people figure out that it is night or it is inside and what is going on around the characters. The story can be whatever they want it to be. There are always clues for people to solve themselves, but they have to be willing participants.”

He goes on: “Everybody has a story. When you paint a person it is not just a person, it is the whole space and mood around them and inside them.

“In Argentina we have a phrase – ‘El Verso’ which we use to describe the situation when a man tries to impress a woman, to sell himself by telling her all the good things (and leaving out the bad!) about himself. you see ‘el verso’ in action all the time and it is a great subject to paint.

“Recently I have begun to paint more couples because when someone is watching you, or when you are with someone, you are in a way defending your personality; when you are wearing your public face you become a different character and it’s very interesting for an artist to study people in that way.”

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Who are the women in your paintings?

They are women I have known in my childhood, women I now know and women I have met on my travels. I have recently been moved to paint a series of works around a woman I met in England who had a particular kind of European beauty which is different from the darker, more sultry looks of my compatriots. I have painted many pictures of my wife who is a constant inspiration to me from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. Camaraderie is a recurring theme in your work. Is friendship as important to you as love?

Friendship is important to everyone. Love is important to everyone. nothing means as much to me as my family but our friends bring us great joy. Do you paint on location or in a studio?

I have two studios; one is in Los Angeles which is really simple in style, although full of books, sculptures, canvases, artists’ materials and so on. I also have a studio in my ranch where we spend weekends and holidays and this is a wonderful place to get close to nature and find the peace to paint from my soul with no distractions. Do you have a favourite artist and if so why do you admire them?

I like rembrandt for his warm earthy colours, Sargent because there is always tension and mystery in his paintings. But Picasso is my favourite artist; his work is so diverse - he did so much and was never swayed from his purpose. Do you think you have been influenced by other artists? You have been linked with Toulouse Lautrec but your work is so completely different from his. Why is that?

I think what they are commenting on is the empathy that he had for the people he painted. He really understood the life at the Moulin rouge in the way that I understand a the world inhabited

by the characters I paint. I love the freshness and the humour in his work, but sure, he was a very different painter from me. How would you categorise your work in terms of genre and its place in art history?

neo-emotionalism is the name I decided to use to describe the style of art I use for my creations. I choose figures because I consider them the most challenging

Insight...

form, and also to help the criticism of the viewer in all different levels of knowledge. It is risky creating figurative art because it is defined in the evidence of the skill, where one error can make a masterpiece fail, if it is not in harmony with the entirety of the whole. Beauty, in every sense of the word, is my inspiration and in consequence, the common denominator between the subject or the object I create. The importance of creating with emotion is greater for me than the actual technique; it is critical for me to become one with the subject. neo-emotionalism is a concept that will be recognized by the artist who, after creating their work, feels liberated, and by the viewer who experiences the creation with their heart. This is energy. It is the divine force of the Universe. You have spent time in many different countries. Have other cultures had an impact on your work?

They certainly have. I paint many scenes of Venice and the Venetians as a direct result of the time I spent living in Italy. I also spent some in Okinawa and Tokyo and became fascinated by the simplicity of Japanese zen painting which uses a technique call Shodo which is more a discipline than an art form really. It is admired for the accurate composition of characters, the way the brush is handled, the shading of the ink, and the balanced placement of the characters on the paper. With Shodo one sits on the floor with a sheet of rice paper, a brush and Chinese ink. The artist begins to concentrate and, when he feels ready or the urge strikes, he starts to paint. When a stroke is made on the paper, the artist cannot turn back. If he is unhappy with what he has created, he must start all over. Even when I’m going backwards and forward with my colors, the important thing is the determination of each stroke. I have lived as you say in several different countries and what I have found out is that people all share the same emotions. That’s why I don’t paint specific places most of the time; even though I paint Argentinian night life scenes actually they could be anywhere. Has your martial arts discipline affected your artistic approach?

Certainly. I have a favourite quote from Miyamoto Musashi which says: “Look at what is distant as if it was close. Look at what is close as if it were far away. Look with your heart at that which your eyes cannot see.” For me this sums up the essence both of karate and of painting.

When Fabian goes out and meets his collectors there are

certain questions which come up again and again . So here are some of

the things you want to know about your favourite artist!

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purposeart

perpetuatebeauty

is toof

The

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