In the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna, Austria, in front of the main altar, artist Enrique Fuentes presented his monumental work “La Resurrección” (The Resurrection). This work represents the 15th and final station of the Via Crucis. The canvas is a polyptych measuring 9 by 4 meters and was inaugurated on the first weekend of Advent. This masterpiece was displayed in the cathedral for the enjoyment of the entire community and for the benefit of art and culture.
Enrique Fuentes approaches with energy and sensitivity his contemporary interpretation of the religious theme of the Via Crucis, giving it a modern style with interplay of lights and shadows that reflect his own passion and dedication. He employs various techniques, such as oil painting, charcoal, and graphite on canvas. Each of the 14 stations representing episodes from the Passion of Christ was simultaneously exhibited at the Art at Park art fair, held at the Park-HyaZ Hotel in Vienna. In the same exhibition, variations exploring the symbolism of the cross were presented, painted in oil on rough burlap (jute).
Enrique Fuentes’ work evokes powerful emotions, regardless of the viewer’s background. What matters is what his works awaken in each of us. His paintings reflect a dark side that addresses themes like death, illness, despair, and decadence. Enrique Fuentes possesses a shamanic gift, the ability to sense and conceive the other side, and this defines his art and makes it exceptional. His paintings are beautiful but also mysterious, and that mystery persists even when reasonable explanations are sought for them.
Dr. O&o Hans Ressler Writer, art expert, curator, and Austrian art auctioneer
“The representational aspect in Enrique Fuentes’ painting oscillates between form and dissolution. His works often feature figurative elements. Through the intensive use of his body in his artistic work, the artist also establishes a connection with the last radical artist, Günter Brus.
The cross is one of the most widely recognized symbols worldwide, with profound cultural, religious, and political significance. It has the ability to expand in different directions and is considered a symbol of eternal life. The artist’s individual attitude towards life and death is reflected in his works. His representations of crosses convey an intentional spirituality embedded in their reception. Figuratively, it is his own thought that he presents to us in its depth and clarity. Despite the painful epics, Enrique Fuentes’ works reveal both the burden and the lightness of the cross; they also aspire to be an example of determination and civil courage.
Dr. Johann Baumgartner Exhibition curator, Cultural Director at Steiermarkhof, Graz, Austria.