Rafael Pi Belda

Rafael Pi Belda
Born (1929-01-25)January 25, 1929
Valencia, Spain
Died April 3, 2012(2012-04-03) (aged 83)
Valencia, Spain
Nationality Spanish
Known for Sculpture

Rafael Pi Belda (January 25, 1929 – April 3, 2012) was a Spanish sculptor. He studied beaux-arts in Valencia under the guidance of Enrique Pérez Comendador and José Ortells López. His works are mainly figurative.

Biography

Early years

Rafael Pi Belda was born in Valencia on 25 January 1929. He grew up in a working family. His father worked as a furniture restorer though his mother also played a key role in his initiation to the Fine Arts. During his childhood years he lived in the historic district of Valencia where numerous artists' studios were devoted to the making of religious images in the vicinity of the Cathedral. The observation of their activity awakened his penchant for sculpture.

Education

From the age of sixteen, he attended the workshops of sculptor Carmelo Vicent, where he learnt the techniques of model-making, carving and relief as a preparation for the entrance examination to Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Carlos de Valencia. Between 1947 (aged 18) and 1952 he specialised in sculpture at that school under the tuition of Octavio Vicent, Carmelo Vicent, Enrique Giner and Manuel Beltrán among others.

In 1952 he received a study grant from the regional government of Valencia that allowed him to pursue his education in Madrid and in Italy.

Ahí queda eso, Rafael Pi Belda (private collection).

Career

In 1983 he started creating large-size bronze monuments. His work Al moro y al cristiano, installed in Caravaca de la Cruz (Murcia, Spain) is the first of this series.

Until 1994 he shared his time between his work as a secondary school teacher and his sculpture workshop.

Since 1997 he is dedicated full-time to sculpture.

Comments on his work

Francisco Agramunt commented on his style and technique: «Rafael Pi Belda's sculpture has its grounds on continued work, radical honesty and great technical mastery. Among the sculptors of the second half of the 20th century, his case is that of an independent artist that has developed a distinctive technique, within which he has evolved smoothly but steadily, until reaching a style that could be defined as mediterranean impressionism of a great expressive maturity, not only because his art is imbued with a classicist character but also because the artist is emotionally deeply rooted in that coastal geography. Rafael operates within a kind of mediterranean impressionism in order to elaborate sculptures that stand out because of the intelligent game of coupling, their open and harmonious volumes and their stunning technical perfection. His technical mastery has allowed him to deal with compositions, portrays, public monuments and religious images in an equally successful manner. Through the observation of his works that appeal the observer by their beauty and are both intellectual and popular, we can feel his love for proportions, for play on volumes, for harmony in composition and the taste for a job well done». [1]

Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines wrote «Rafael balances traditional artistic culture and openness to modern sculpture within the current mediterranean expressionism. The subjects of their works are ordinary people, imbued with nostalgy: old men, beggars, etc. approaching them from a personal attitude. The use of wax allows him to model the body and clothes as though they were soft adaptable sheets that the artist drills, folds or projects in the air. This is one of the main devices he uses to amplify and deepen the emotion enclosed by the bronze. He distorts the anatomy, he makes limbs slimmer, he breaks the flesh open and plays with fabrics laying them out pompously. His works, even the small scale ones, present a kind of monumental character, conferred by his particular way of assembling shape simplification and compact volumes with concrete elements, references and gestures containing the expressive energy».[2]

Work

Al moro y al cristiano (detail of the Moor), Rafael Pi Belda (Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain).
A San Juan de la Cruz (detail), Rafael Pi Belda (Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain).
Cristo crucificado, Rafael Pi Belda (Parroquia de San Luis Obispo, Valencia, Spain).

References

  1. ↑ Agramunt Lacruz, Francisco (2000). Artistas Valencianos del siglo XX (in Spanish) (Fondos del estudio fotografico Sanchís ed.). Valencia: Publicacions Diputació de Valencia. pp. 98, 99. ISBN 84-7795-274-4.
  2. ↑ Gutiérrez-Cortines Corral, Cristina (1985). Arte en Murcia (1862-1985) (in Spanish). Identidad regional y escultura (Museo Municipal Septiembre-Octubre 1985 ed.). Murcia: Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Concejalía de Cultura) y Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia (Consejería de Cultura). p. 172. ISBN 84-505-2131-9.
  3. ↑ "Escultura Del Alpargatero" (in Spanish). Ayuntamiento de Cehegín, Concejalía de Turismo. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  4. ↑ María e Isaías, Carmen (2009-11-19). "Tamborada de Mula" (in Spanish). Mi periódico digital. La Verdad Digital, S.L. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  5. ↑ "Ruta del vino de Bullas" (in Spanish). Enoturismia. 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  6. ↑ Fernández Robles, Juan (11/05/2006). "Monumento caballista". Especial Fiestas de la Vera Cruz (in Spanish). La verdad digital S.L. Retrieved 2011-03-23. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ Lloret, A. (11/03/2009). "Una escultura mostrará el oficio de "espardenyer"" (in Spanish). El Periódico Mediterráneo. Promociones y Ediciones Culturales S.A. Retrieved 2011-03-25. Check date values in: |date= (help)
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