Awards

Pedro Sandoval takes Velázquez's painting "Las Meninas" and transforms it into a sculptural recreation with a modern pop and comic twist. His work, titled "El sueño de Velázquez" (Velázquez's Dream), features seven wooden figures representing various art history masters, including Leonardo da Vinci, René Magritte, Piet Mondrian, and Jess R. Soto. Each figure takes on a conceptual twist and is accompanied by a Velazquezian mastiff turned into a griffin, a mythological creature.

One of the figures, the blue monochrome menina, pays homage to Magritte's "The Son of Man" and is adorned with apples symbolizing paradise lost. Another menina, inspired by Mondrian, presents a deceptive Medusa's face against a white background, symbolizing the need to blend into a society filled with hidden dangers and miseries.

Sandoval's menina influenced by Venezuelan artist Jesus R. Soto features a sphere at the center, symbolizing maternity, life, and the passage of time. There's also a multicolored ball beside her, evoking childhood and play.

The menina inspired by Da Vinci resembles the Mona Lisa, alluding to masks people wear to conceal their true selves. It's undeniably androgynous, with crossed masculine hands.

The sculpture of Diego Velázquez himself sports comic-book character exophthalmic eyeballs, a mobile phone, and a palette like a ruff. Mismatched shoes add to the figurine's liveliness. A toy representing Leonardo's first war machine reminds us of the ever-latent threat of war.

Finally, a griffin-like creature with a Velazquezian mastiff appearance stands in the foreground, symbolizing the looming threat of force in this recreation of "Las Meninas," an iconic painting recreated by Picasso.

Sandoval created his artwork using natural materials like African whitewood and non-synthetic pigments. This piece is part of a larger project with 36 pieces inspired by Goya and other key figures in art history, reflecting the concept that "In art there is no evolution without metamorphosis," as noted by the Swiss architect and art critic Alberto Sartoris.