Stratigraphic photograph of "Saint Francis Kneeling On Death" by El Greco.

Stratigraphic photograph of "Saint Francis Kneeling On Death" by El Greco.

Work-document of "The Skull of St. Francis' Meditation" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2019.

Work-document of "The Skull of St. Francis' Meditation" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2019.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

"The Shadow of the Shepherd" 2019. Stratigraphic photograph "The Veneration of the Shepherds" by El Greco.

"The Shadow of the Shepherd" 2019. Stratigraphic photograph "The Veneration of the Shepherds" by El Greco.

Work-document of "The Sheperd's Shadow" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2019.

Work-document of "The Sheperd's Shadow" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2019.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

"Equestrian Portrait Sky" , 2019. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "Equestrian Portrait of Philip III" by Diego Velázquez.

"Equestrian Portrait Sky" , 2019. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "Equestrian Portrait of Philip III" by Diego Velázquez.

Work-document of "Equestrian Portrait Sky", from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2019.

Work-document of "Equestrian Portrait Sky", from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2019.

"The Blue", 2020. Stratigraphic photograph of Pablo Picasso's "Woman in Blue".

"The Blue", 2020. Stratigraphic photograph of Pablo Picasso's "Woman in Blue".

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: “Woman in Blue”. "Blue", 2020.

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: “Woman in Blue”. "Blue", 2020.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

"The Floor of the Maja and the Celestina", 2020. Stratigraphic photograph of Goya's "Maja and Celestina".

"The Floor of the Maja and the Celestina", 2020. Stratigraphic photograph of Goya's "Maja and Celestina".

Detail of work-document of "The Floor of the Maja and the Celestina" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2020.

Detail of work-document of "The Floor of the Maja and the Celestina" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2020.

Work-document of "The Floor of the Maja and the Celestina" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2020.

Work-document of "The Floor of the Maja and the Celestina" from the "Archaeology of Color" series, 2020.

"Bacchus' Head ", 2019. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "The Triumph of Bacchus" by Diego Velázquez.

"Bacchus' Head ", 2019. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "The Triumph of Bacchus" by Diego Velázquez.

Detail of work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "The Triumph of Bacchus / The Drunkards". Bacchus' Head", 2019.

Detail of work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "The Triumph of Bacchus / The Drunkards". Bacchus' Head", 2019.

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "The Triumph of Bacchus / The Drunkards". Bacchus' Head", 2019.

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "The Triumph of Bacchus / The Drunkards". Bacchus' Head", 2019.

Stratigraphic photograph of "The Immaculate Conception of the Venerables", by Murillo.

Stratigraphic photograph of "The Immaculate Conception of the Venerables", by Murillo.

Work-document  "The Mantle of the Immaculate Conception", 2019.

Work-document "The Mantle of the Immaculate Conception", 2019.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

"The table, the tie, the curtain and the shirt", 2018.  From "Portrait of Hugo Erfurth...", by Otto Dix.

"The table, the tie, the curtain and the shirt", 2018. From "Portrait of Hugo Erfurth...", by Otto Dix.

Work-document "Portrait of Hugo Erfurth with his dog". The Table, the Tie, the Curtain and the Shirt", 2018.

Work-document "Portrait of Hugo Erfurth with his dog". The Table, the Tie, the Curtain and the Shirt", 2018.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

"Horse's Head", 2018. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "Philip II on Horseback", by Pedro Pablo Rubens.

"Horse's Head", 2018. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "Philip II on Horseback", by Pedro Pablo Rubens.

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "Philip II on Horseback". Horse's Head", 2018.

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "Philip II on Horseback". Horse's Head", 2018.

"The Skin of the Colossus", 2018. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "The Colossus" by Francisco de Goya.

"The Skin of the Colossus", 2018. Stratigraphic photograph of the work "The Colossus" by Francisco de Goya.

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "The Colossus". The Colossus' Skin", 2018.

Work-document of "Study of Pictorial Anatomy: "The Colossus". The Colossus' Skin", 2018.

"The Heaven of Paradise, 2020. Stratigraphic photograph of Tintoretto's "Paradise".

"The Heaven of Paradise, 2020. Stratigraphic photograph of Tintoretto's "Paradise".

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Installation view of the exhibition "Archaeology of Color" 2019 at Freijo Gallery.

Archaeology of Color

David Beltrán

from June 13, 2020 to August 27, 2020

Freijo Gallery presents the first solo exhibition by David Beltrán (Cuba, 1978) in Madrid, called Archaeology of Color, which shows two-dimensional abstract works based on stratigraphic photographs of particles from masterpieces from the Prado National Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and the Reina Sofía National Art Museum. To do this, David Beltrán works with the restoration departments of international museums, thus combining art and science, establishing a close link between plastic arts and restoration. 

David Beltrán is a Cuban artist who works in various media such as photography, painting and installation. He was part of the "Edgar & David" duo (2000-2005), developing his first site-specific works and installations and at the same time being a member of the Enema Collective guided by the Cuban artist Lázaro Saavedra. In 2005 Beltrán was also a member of the group "La Teoría Dorada de Popeye", a multidisciplinary project with a rock band format using the aesthetics of actionism and Noise music genre as an icon representing a generation unsatisfied with its time. 

Among other spaces, Beltrán has shown his work in: Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam, during the 13th Havana Biennial, 2019; Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba, 2017; Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba, 2018; Fundación Ludwig de Cuba, Habana Gallery, Havana, Cuba, 2002; 8th Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba, 2003; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Triennale Bovisa, Milan, Italy, 2008; Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba, 2011 and 2014; Fototeca de Cuba, Havana, Cuba, 2014; Trienal Poligráfica, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2015; ESMoA, Los Angeles, USA, 2017; PAMM, Miami, USA, 2017. 


Press release

Download catalog

Exhibition overview

"Archaeology of Color" at POSTCONTEMPORÁNEA TV

Article in Artelogie, written by Suset Sánchez Sánchez. October 2021