Miguel Dávila’s centennial exhibition reveals artistic evolution
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In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sasha Dávila is presenting an extensive exhibition of his late father, painter Miguel Dávila, to mark the centennial of his birth.
Sasha chose curator Joaquín Rodríguez to provide a fresh perspective on over two thousand of Miguel Dávila’s artworks, recognizing his own view was clouded by affection. The exhibition, “Tercer orden” (Third Order) at the Casa Nacional del Bicentenario, displays Dávila’s work from 1949 to 2009, showcasing his diverse styles and consistent artistic concerns.
The exhibit’s title references critic Elena de Bertola’s idea that Dávila’s paintings balance constructive order with impulsive expression, reflecting a “visual thinking” process where image creation involved exploration and discovery. Born in Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina, in 1926, Dávila studied at the National University of Tucumán and later travelled to Paris on a grant alongside other Argentine artists.
Though he incorporated elements of various artistic movements, he maintained a critical distance from rigid adherence to any single “ism.” Sasha Dávila believes his father needed to continually evolve, and the exhibition displays this through various mediums including oil paintings, experimental films, and prints. The show explores recurring themes in Dávila’s work, the human body, urban landscapes, and memories of his homeland, presenting them in a way that encourages direct engagement and reveals previously unseen connections.
Sasha notes that visitors often discover phases of his father’s work they were previously unaware of, gaining a fuller understanding of his artistic journey.
