Cala Marçal, no. 1

Barceló's Cala Marçal no. 1 depicts the cove near Porto Colom in Mallorca where the artist was living and working during the summer of 1984. Working in an old bar, Barceló produced some of his works directly on the beach and it was not uncommon for sand, seaweed and any other thing that he found to be incorporated in his palette and on his paintings. It is this strong interest in texture, which has become a trademark of the artist, that imbues this local scene with a powerful energy that appears to echo the forces of nature at work in the landscape. The visual impact of Cala Marçal no. 1 is reminiscent not only of the works of Anselm Kiefer, with its sheer size and the techniques used, but also of other great European artists such as the Spaniard Antoni Tàpies and his material pictures. Unlike Kiefer, however, Barceló is hardly a narrative or historical painter. The originality of his paintings reflects the painterly traditions of Europe, but one has to bear in mind the background of the artist in order to understand his work. His birthplace in Mallorca, his portrayal of the earthy tones and the use of a textural richness capture the brilliant Mediterranean light and the iridescent colour of the sea in this monumental work, a view that he painted on many occasions. Landscape is also a significant part of the artists' oeuvre, made more significant when Barceló, an incessant traveller, is based in countries and environments that allow him to absorb the splendour of the view.
1984 was an important year for Barceló. During this year, amongst other events, he met his future wife Cécile. Galerie Bruno Bischofberger began to represent his paintings and drawings worldwide and he was chosen to exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.