Mercedes Navarro´s paintings

     If he lived here and now, Mr Hopper would cross the Triana Bridge and, walking through San Jacinto to Alfareria to the right, would go up this emblematic street and would turn the corner to the left, at Procurador Street level.

     On that street, at number 19, he would have stayed long enough to remember the steps leading up to his 'Nighthawks', those four people close to each other but so distant from each other: the woman and the man closest to us seem to be using a mobile phone; the man next to the young woman has interrupted her chat at that very moment, because perhaps the waiter has asked him something. If you approach the painting, you will discover that they have other objects in their hands; mobile phones are a matter of today.

     Mr Hopper would stop at the first work in the room, the one that is just entering and to which our eyes are directed when passing the doorstep: there is his 'Night on the Train'. In this case, the woman has already reached her destination and no longer appears, while the man in the background — in Hopper's work portrayed in profile — in the Sala El Cachorro is almost on his back.

     The 'Automat', 'Office at Night', the doors of the Hopper Hotel, bay windows, lights and shadows, intimacy... Nostalgic, the introverted American would give a hint of a smile.

     Fran, I have had the satisfaction of meeting and talking a little with Mercedes Navarro and I dare to affirm that the delicacy in the treatment can be seen reflected in her paintings.

     The show runs until November 14^th.

 

     Y. a.

     Mary