Murcian artist Perla Fuertes inaugurated the evening program of the 64th Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas with Latido Flamenco, a solo exhibition on view throughout August at the Museo Minero de La Unión. The show explores the expressive depth of flamenco through large-scale oil paintings that honor the role of women in the tradition.
Combining vibrant color, dynamic composition, and emotional nuance, Fuertes captures what art historian Pedro Manzano describes as “a vehicle for feeling,” portraits of flamenco women rendered with intensity and tenderness. The paintings evoke shared moments of joy and sorrow, framed by the rhythm of song, dance, and guitar.
Several works from past flamenco-themed exhibitions, Esencias (Lorca, 2021) and A Compás (Alhama de Murcia, 2024), reappear in this collection, highlighting Fuertes’s ongoing exploration of identity, femininity, and duende. Her broader portfolio includes thematic series such as Niños en su mundo, Corpus Ego, and Caja de Agua II, the latter a study of bodies and water as metaphors for emotion and thought.
Known for her depictions of strong, charismatic female figures, Fuertes balances technical precision with atmospheric mystery. Her use of light, color, and exacting detail gives her paintings a distinct visual rhythm and emotional clarity.
A native of Alhama de Murcia, Fuertes has exhibited internationally, from Seoul and New York to Tokyo and Paris, and was recently named a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa María de la Arrixaca.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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