Teran

TERÁN (Chile, 1974).
"Metropolis". Series Making Of 2022.
Oil on panel.
Signed in the lower right corner. Signed, dated and titled on the back.
Measurements: 100 x 80 cm; 110 x 90 cm (frame).
Chilean artist Terán's painting, inspired by the iconic poster for Fritz Lang's film Metropolis (1927), masterfully reinterprets the futuristic and expressionist aesthetic of the film, fusing homage with his own distinctive style. The work captures the essence of the mechanized, dystopian city that symbolizes oppression and the unstoppable advance of modernity.
In the composition, the monumental silhouette of the city of Metropolis stands out, depicted with skyscrapers of geometric lines and industrial structures that evoke the art deco architecture and futurism of the early 20th century. The ascending perspective gives a sense of immensity and power, conveying the idea of a city dominated by machinery and technological progress.
In the foreground, the iconic figure of the humanoid robot Maria appears with her metallic face and enigmatic expression, reflecting both the fascination and unease she aroused in the film. Her presence is central and illuminated with a chiaroscuro effect that enhances her mechanical appearance, alluding to the duality between the human and the artificial, a fundamental theme in Metropolis. Through this reinterpretation, Terán not only pays tribute to a film classic, but also recontextualizes its message, allowing a reflection on the relationship between human beings and technology today, just as Metropolis did in its time.

A Chilean artist living in Spain, with a degree in Fine Arts, Manuel Terán has developed his creative work in the field of plastic arts and new technologies applied to art. Since he became known in 1995 at the Salón de Otoño del Círculo de Bellas Artes in Santiago de Chile, he has held solo exhibitions and participated in group shows and fairs in Latin America and Europe. He has received awards such as the Real Academia de San Carlos de Valencia (2004).