Jaime Hayon: Bestial

“Bestial” is a word linked to animals but also a superlative for something remarkable, brutal, or savage. This exhibition explores the interplay between nature and humanity with a critical, playful, and ironic lens. Animals adopt human traits and gestures, venturing into surreal realms.
Dynamic, saturated strokes bring metamorphic creatures to life, seemingly bursting from the canvas. In a dreamlike world, flora and fauna collide, reflecting the precarious balance of nature and the human dominance over it. Through paintings and sculptures crafted from diverse materials, Hayon blends reality and imagination to explore fragility, uncertainty, and the quest for self-discovery.
“Bestial” explores the role animals have played in art, symbolising emotions and human experiences across cultures. From Egyptian gods to the works of Picasso, Dalí, and Rousseau, animals have long embodied strength, rage, and passion.
The exhibition draws on this legacy to present fantastical forms inspired by ancient Egyptian art and Flemish floral paintings. Vibrant colours against dark backdrops create a connection between past and present, highlighting how animals, flora, and fauna have shaped creative narratives throughout history.