The municipal Espai d’Art hosts the exhibition ‘Cho-kollages’ by Juana Martínez

The Public Art Space at Benidorm City Hall is hosting Juana Martínez’s exhibition, ‘Cho-kollages,’ which opened today. The exhibition comprises 35 paintings made almost entirely from chocolate and candy wrappers. The opening was attended by Mayor Toni Pérez, the artist, Councillor for Culture Jaime Jesús Pérez, and members of the local council. It will be on display until May 29th during the City Hall’s opening hours.

The technique used, as explained by the artist herself, is collage. “I used to save chocolate wrappers for work. Later, I found them at home and started making geometric designs. I liked them, and then I realised I could exhibit them.” After those initial works, “I wanted to start making figurative pieces too (boats, horses, still lifes…) and I saw that the results were good. Since then, I’ve continued doing it,” she stated at the opening. Martínez revealed that she thought she would continue with this type of work “as long as I had paper,” but after the results she obtained, “people keep bringing me more and more.”

Juana Martínez explained that each painting takes a “very different” amount of time to complete because “while the geometric ones are quicker since they have a set pattern, the figurative ones take longer, and sometimes I use magazine paper for certain effects and highlights.” “Portraits and still lifes are more demanding,” she noted.

For his part, the Councillor for Culture emphasised that the City Council continues “promoting the Public Art Space as a place to exhibit for all individuals or groups who wish to do so.” The councillor expressed his “satisfaction” at continuing to support “such a curious and striking exhibition as this one, in which the compositions are truly impressive.”