| XAVIER COLL PAINTINGS |
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BIOGRAPHY ![]() 1922 - Date of birth in Barcelona 1950 - I begin to paint in Paris, guided by Mimi Frogt and Raymond Mason. Imaginary themes, compositions and nudes. Exchanged ideas with Pedro Pruna in Sitges 1951 - First exhibition in Paris, in Galerie 55, in La Rue de Seine, presenting 23 paintings, of which the important ones were a nude in homage to red wine, and "Flo", my own nude self-portrait. Raymond Mason is responsible for transport. The paintings are acquired by Robert Trimbach, Pierre Landy and the majority of the pieces enter the collection of Henri Pierre Rocher. 1952 - Influenced by the work of Alberto Giacometti, the paintings become more structured. The following pieces belong to this time: "Pajarero de la Rambla", "Cena de las Apóstoles", "Fille regardant une fleur", "Suzi", "Foule regardant la mer".... the figures become more linear and space expands. 1953 - I decorate the hall and stairs of the building in Calle Atenas inspired by themes of the Palace of Minos. 1955 - I present the scale model, libreto and decorations for the ballet "Pirlimplinada" and they are accepted by the Marqués de Cuevas. 1957 - Opening of "Pirlimpinada" in the Liceo of Barcelona with music of Mompou and Monsalvatge and the choreography of Boris Skuratov. Commission of decorations and scale models for the "Retablo de Maese Pedro" which never was produced. 1960 - Landscapes of burnt mountains, rocks and cemeteries. 1960 - I meet Henriette Gomés, heiress of the Galerie Pierre Matisse. She has Balthus as a student, who will considerably influence my painting. 1967 - Second exhibition in Paris in the Galerie Henriette Gomés, introduced by Patrick Valdberg. 1968 - Balthus leaves the Galerie H.G. and I follow him going freelance. He is named Director of the Villa Medicis in Rome, and I, notwithstanding losing a good place, think that without Balthus it will decline. I begin a surreal period with watercolor-poems and paintings. 1969 - I enter into a more geometric period. There is a bookstore exhibiting illustrations on tantric art in front of the British Museum. I feel identified with them and receive instruction on the tantric path. A trip to India will deepen my knowledge on tantric art and I'll meet the Director of the Tantric Museum, Agit Mookerjee who will introduce me to this system. 1972 - First exhibition in Barcelona in the Galería Da Barra showing 35 paintings and several lithography's, introduced by Dr. Kaviratna and Giralt Miracle. 1975. - Exhibition in New Delhi, in the Dhoomi Mal Gallery with a presentation by Agit Mookerjee. Reception by Indira Gandhi. Attendance by Mr. Kohl, Minister of Culture and by the Marqués de Santovenia, the Spanish Ambassador. The majority of the paintings remained in India. 1976 - A visit of three months in Sri Lanka where I painted around thirty paintings that were exhibited in my third exhibition in Paris in the gallery that Jeaninne Mason had opened in the Court de Rouen, (previous residence of Balthus), presented by James Lord. 1979 - Exhibition of large Yantras in the Castle of Calonge with an interview by the BBC. 1984 - My return to nature begins, especially dedicating myself to forests. 1986 - Second exhibition in Barcelona on landscapes in the Gallery of Grifé y Escoda and presented by the poet Joan Brossa 1997 - Third exhibition in the same gallery presenting a series of nudes. 1999 - Return to landscapes, markets, surrealism and abstract art. 2001 - Snails, birds, landscapes and new mandalas, etc.
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