When we assembled these collections we came upon the notion to share with you the relationship the painter Armand Campi has had with his artistic predecessors. 

 

 

 

Even though Campi's paintings have an intrinsic capacity which can well be appreciated, it is enriching to acces his art through the perspective he had growing up in Havana and maturing in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and the estuary of the Dutch rivers.

 

In those places he was surrounded by an intellectual, visual, philosophical and natural challenging enviroment where the old masters were vividly around him. We will juxtapose Campi's painting with some of the sketches of Moreau and paintings from, Redon, Rembrandt, Goya and Turner. Campi was well aware of this kinship, and for sure these painters were present, consciously or sub-consciously when he was at work.

 

A bond in time

 

Painting is a slow art. It needs time. May these paintings lead you in a thoughtful time. Be immersed in both Campi's paintings with or without the conjunction of his ‘companions’. Possibly giving insights and acces into another plane, outside of time and maybe on its way in, reveal Campi’s lure to these masters who challenged, stimulated and defined him.

 

Campi worked in an ongoing dialog with himself and his materials during the act of creation. In these non verbal conversations Campi gave honor to these masters, acknowledged them and held them as sparring partners when he went his own independent way.  He combined elements from the evolution of art movements grounded in a prevalent theme of figures placed in an environment that influences them decisively.