Xavier Oriach
Encyclopedia
Xavier Oriach is a Spanish
painter
and engrave
r from Catalonia
. He is best known for his association with the School of Paris
.
in Catalonia; his family established itself there in the fifteenth century. when his ancestors, the Oriacs of the Massif Central
, settled in the area. His parents moved to Barcelona
in 1930 to start a fashion
house; they were accompanied there by Oriach's granduncle, the modernist
photographer Albert Rifà. When his parents moved again, this time to Valencia, in 1934 to open a factory, Xavier returned with his great-uncle to Sabadell, spending much of the rest of his childhood in Rifà's studio. Encouraged by the succession of artist
s that frequented the atelier, Oriach began to draw
and paint at the end of the 1930s.
In 1943 Oriach left his home village to rejoin his parents, working for a time in his father's business; it was his father that suggested he take drawing lessons. Consequently, in 1944 he entered the Fine Arts School of Valencia; it was there, in 1947, that he participated in the foundation of the avant-garde
group Z. He began to incorporate elements of Fauvism
into his work. The local French Institute accorded him a bourse
, which was enough to allow him, after a first exhibition of his work in Catalonia, to flee the Franco regime.
In January, 1951, Oriach settled in Paris
, accompanied by his friend, guitarist
Narciso Yepes
. To continue painting he began experimenting with more diverse styles. He had, in his youth, met Antoni Clavé
in Barcelona, and had known Manolo Gil in Valencia; in Paris he also came to know Antoni Tàpies
, Eduardo Chillida
, and Palazuelo. Some months after arriving he attracted the interest of Bernard Dorival, who invited him to the retrospective
of Georges Braque
then being organized at the Musée National d'Art Moderne
. In 1953 Oriach was shown at the Galerie Breteau; not long afterwards he became involved in the New School of Paris, showing both at the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles
ainsi and the Salon de Mai
.
During the 1950s the Franco regime attempted to lure various artists in exile to return to Spain; notwithstanding the fact that most of the artists in question were ideologically opposed to the dictator it was hoped that such liberalization would help soften the government's image abroad. Nevertheless, Oriach refused to return; when he did leave Paris in 1979 it was only to establish himself at Jouy-sur-Eure
(Normandy
), where he had gone regularly since his arrival in France. There he turned his studio into a place for meetings and debate
s, creating a center for contemporary art where he showed the work of friends such as Pierre Tal Coat, Raoul Ubac
, and Tàpies; he also founded a biennial for sculpture
.
In 1991 Oriach moved again, this time to Normandy, where several retrospectives of his work have been organized; he also shows regularly in his native Catalonia.
was losing favor, Oriach soon threw himself into the study of abstraction
. Leaving aside the naturalism of his early style, he chose instead to focus on more nebulous, less concrete subjects. His work gradually grew larger, but has remained precise, combining elements of Catalan, French, and Spanish culture
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and engrave
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
r from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
. He is best known for his association with the School of Paris
School of Paris
School of Paris refers to two distinct groups of artists — a group of medieval manuscript illuminators, and a group of non-French artists working in Paris before World War I...
.
Biography
Oriach was born in SabadellSabadell
Sabadell is the second largest city in the comarca of the Vallès Occidental in Catalonia, Spain. It is in the south of the comarca, on the River Ripoll, 20 km north-west of Barcelona...
in Catalonia; his family established itself there in the fifteenth century. when his ancestors, the Oriacs of the Massif Central
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
, settled in the area. His parents moved to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
in 1930 to start a fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
house; they were accompanied there by Oriach's granduncle, the modernist
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
photographer Albert Rifà. When his parents moved again, this time to Valencia, in 1934 to open a factory, Xavier returned with his great-uncle to Sabadell, spending much of the rest of his childhood in Rifà's studio. Encouraged by the succession of artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s that frequented the atelier, Oriach began to draw
Draw
Draw, draws or drawn may refer to:* The act of drawing, or making an image with a writing utensil* A part of many card games* A part of a lottery* Wire drawing...
and paint at the end of the 1930s.
In 1943 Oriach left his home village to rejoin his parents, working for a time in his father's business; it was his father that suggested he take drawing lessons. Consequently, in 1944 he entered the Fine Arts School of Valencia; it was there, in 1947, that he participated in the foundation of the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
group Z. He began to incorporate elements of Fauvism
Fauvism
Fauvism is the style of les Fauves , a short-lived and loose group of early twentieth-century Modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong colour over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism...
into his work. The local French Institute accorded him a bourse
Bourse
Bourse may refer to:*exchange *stock exchange*Bourse : metro station, Paris, France*Bourse de Travail: French labor council-Exchanges:*Paris Bourse: Euronext Paris, historical Paris stock exchange...
, which was enough to allow him, after a first exhibition of his work in Catalonia, to flee the Franco regime.
In January, 1951, Oriach settled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, accompanied by his friend, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Narciso Yepes
Narciso Yepes
Narciso Yepes was a Spanish guitarist.-Biography:Yepes was born into a family of humble origin in Lorca, Region of Murcia. His father gave him his first guitar when he was four years old. He took his first lessons from Jesus Guevara, in Lorca...
. To continue painting he began experimenting with more diverse styles. He had, in his youth, met Antoni Clavé
Antoni Clavé
Antoni Clavé was a Catalan master painter, printmaker, sculptor, stage designer and costume designer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for his work on the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen.Clavé was one of Spain's best known and most celebrated artists...
in Barcelona, and had known Manolo Gil in Valencia; in Paris he also came to know Antoni Tàpies
Antoni Tàpies
Antoni Tàpies i Puig, 1st Marquess of Tàpies is a Catalan painter. He is one of the most famous European artists of his generation. After studying law for 3 years, he devoted himself from 1943 onwards only to his painting...
, Eduardo Chillida
Eduardo Chillida
Eduardo Chillida Juantegui, or Eduardo Txillida Juantegi in Basque, was a Spanish Basque sculptor notable for his monumental abstract works.-Early life and career:...
, and Palazuelo. Some months after arriving he attracted the interest of Bernard Dorival, who invited him to the retrospective
Retrospective
Retrospective generally means to take a look back at events that already have taken place. For example, the term is used in medicine, describing a look back at a patient's medical history or lifestyle.-Music:...
of Georges Braque
Georges Braque
Georges Braque[p] was a major 20th century French painter and sculptor who, along with Pablo Picasso, developed the art style known as Cubism.-Early Life:...
then being organized at the Musée National d'Art Moderne
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
. In 1953 Oriach was shown at the Galerie Breteau; not long afterwards he became involved in the New School of Paris, showing both at the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles
Salon des Réalités Nouvelles
The Salon des Réalités Nouvelles is an association of artists and an art exhibition in Paris, focusing on abstract art.A first exhibition with the name was held in 1939 in Galerie Charpentier, organised by Robert Delaunay, Sonia Delaunay, Nelly van Doesburg and Fredo Sidès.In 1946 the Salon was...
ainsi and the Salon de Mai
Salon de Mai
The Salon de Mai is a French group of artists which formed in a café in place du Palais Royal in Paris in October 1943 during the German occupation of France. It was founded in opposition to Nazi ideology and its condemnation of degenerate art...
.
Jouy-sur-Eure
Jouy-sur-Eure is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
(Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
), where he had gone regularly since his arrival in France. There he turned his studio into a place for meetings and debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
s, creating a center for contemporary art where he showed the work of friends such as Pierre Tal Coat, Raoul Ubac
Raoul Ubac
Raoul Ubac was a French painter, sculptor, photographer and engraver.In 1937, he made Tete du Mannequin, a photograph taken of a mannequin consisting of everyday objects. Another of his work's include the photograph 'La Conciliabule'...
, and Tàpies; he also founded a biennial for sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
.
In 1991 Oriach moved again, this time to Normandy, where several retrospectives of his work have been organized; he also shows regularly in his native Catalonia.
Work
Arriving in Paris as realismRealism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
was losing favor, Oriach soon threw himself into the study of abstraction
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
. Leaving aside the naturalism of his early style, he chose instead to focus on more nebulous, less concrete subjects. His work gradually grew larger, but has remained precise, combining elements of Catalan, French, and Spanish culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
.