A new exhibition, featuring the work of the local artist Carlos Matallana opens at the Museum of International and Contemporary Art on 16th March. And he certainly boasts a highly impressive pedigree – as he is César Manrique´s nephew and the son of the Director of the Arrecife Art School.

Entitled ‘Double or Nothing’ the exhibition will feature a series of paintings by Matallana which depict woodland scenes in a highly idiosyncratic style, which are very reminiscent of oriental or Japanese art. Carlos received his artistic training at the School of Fine Arts at both the University of La Laguna in Tenerife and Barcelona between 1973 and 1978. Following this period of study in Spain he then moved to the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Matallana staged his first exhibition in 1980 and has since featured in collective shows at the El Almacen Cultural Centre in Arrecife, the art gallery in Yaiza and at the University of Columbia in New York. Along with solo exhibitions in Tenerife and Gran Canaria in 1990, in Madrid in 1994 and in Arrecife in 1995.

The ‘Double or Nothing’ exhibition includes both oil paintings and drawings by Matallana which explore themes such as acting, spectating and communication between the artist and his audience. Amongst those paintings on show are several portraits where Matallana plays with his role as the subject of the artwork and creator at the same time, calling into question the ‘role’ of performer or artist.

Matallana recently enjoyed a successful showing of his Suite series of paintings at the Galleria Torbandena in Trieste, a venue which is dedicated to hosting shows by contemporary artists from Europe and America. The paintings of woodlands scenes pictured here are named Suite I, Suite II etc and display a highly formal and precise depiction of trees, both bare and in leaf. In addition the spectrum of colours Matallana uses to explore the sylvan landscape is soft and subtle, suggesting the images are captured at dawn or dusk.

`Double or Nothing´ will open on Friday 16th March and runs until 14th May 2012 at the Museum of International Contemporary Art which is located in the Castillo de San José on the outskirts of Arrecife. The museum is open between 11.00 and 20.00 every day and entrance costs €2.50 for adults and €1.25 for children.