Javier Albertos Benayas

Vigo/Spain, b. 1975. His photographs have been published by international magazines and newspapers like the Sunday Times (UK) and The Billionaire (Mexico and USA). His work has also been seen in national media like El Mundo, El Pais, Revista DT, Cuadernos de Jazz. National and international companies have used his photographs in their advertising.

In the photographic documentary project, vigoenfotos.com, he displays more than 15,000 images of the city where he lives. The photographs include cultural events, architecture, fashion, sports, concerts, and nature. It has become the largest photographic representation of a city on the Internet, with more than 2 million visits a year. In 2006 he received a prize for his photographic work covering the international Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006.

All this work with the photography has served to him as laboratory and source of inspiration to develop a "new photography" being allowed him to move between the capture of the moment and the plastic arts creation.

“Submerged Identities”

In 16 large format photographs he reflects on the identity of the contemporary individual, held down by the pressures of society. Javier Albertos explores the human identity; the interior being that is hidden beneath the surface using empty feminine shapes from the fashion world: Store window mannequins. He explores the human side of these inanimate objects to communicate with an audience looking for reflection.

This project shows the maturation of the artist and an evolution towards a “new photography” of a large plastic aesthetic that blurs the line that separates the painting from the photography.

Exhibitions

August 2007: "Art in mind" The Brick Lane Gallery (London)

June 2007: "THE DREAM... the subconscious" Primo Piano LivinGallery in Lecce (Italy)

February 2007: "Portrait: New Trends" Primo Piano LivinGallery in Lecce (Italy)

November 2006: "Submerged Identities" Termes Gallery in Vigo (Spain)

August 2006: "Elogio de la luz atlantica" he participated in the project display of Estrella de Galicia (Spain).

June 2006: "Jazz. En Vigo y en directo" exhibition from the first Jazz festival held in Vigo (Spain).

April 2006: "55"in Niteroi, (Brazil)

October 2005: "80 fotografías alrededor de Verne". Verbum Museum of Vigo (Spain).
Media Reviews

“He has been able to give life to inanimate objects.” (La Voz de Galicia – 21/11/2006 )

“With a long professional background Javier Albertos shows us on this occasion, the fruit of his experiences that bring him to a new, more plastic photography where painting and photography go hand in hand…

The spectator will see first hand how a photograph becomes a real work of art.” (TeleVigo – 24/11/2006)

Collections

- Vigo's city council photographic collection.
- Verbum Museum of Vigo
- Sociedad Fluminense de Fotografia. Niteroi. Brasil
- Several private collections.
Press: “Art in mind” en The Brick Lane Gallery. (London)