Coderch & Malavia
CODERCH & MALAVIA is a sculpture project in which the human body is at the heart of the plastic discourse. A universe of significant forms, centered on the idealized human figure. And a clear horizon: beauty as a tool of everyday life.
Joan Coderch and Javier Malavia joined forces in 2015 to create sculptural work with a refined technique, from modeling in the studio to the final piece cast in bronze.
Joan Coderch was born in 1959 in Castellar del Vallés, Barcelona, and graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Barcelona in 1984. Javier Malavia was born in 1970 in Oñati, Guipúzcoa, and graduated from the San Carlos Faculty of Fine Arts in Valencia in 1993. Once they met, they discovered their artistic similarities, which led them to undertake this new project that follows in the footsteps of the masters of figuration such as Maillol, Rodin, Marini, and Bourdelle.
Part of the originality of their art lies in their way of working, since they create their sculptures with four hands, thus participating in the creation of the pieces.
Joan and Javier also share the values of their artistic creation, such as social commitment to equality, the environment, and childhood.
Their project is distinguished by its honesty and authenticity: they explore different human attitudes towards life, in the mimicry of nature, the search for emotion through the work, the unveiling of the feelings that guide man, the meeting between figure and posture, and the combination of beauty and discipline occupies a preponderant place. The human being is at the heart of their art.
From the beginning, Coderch and Malavia have managed to position themselves as outstanding figurative artists. They received the Reina Sofía Prize for Painting and Sculpture for their work "Hamlet" in 2017 and won first prize in the 14th International ARC Salon competition with the sculpture "Swan Dance" in 2019. Their other awards include the Mariano Benlliure Sculpture Medal, the TIAC Art Prize, and the Arcadia Contemporary Awards.
In addition to being nationally and internationally renowned, their work is part of private collections in several countries in Europe, Asia, and America. They present their work in collective and individual exhibitions in private entities and public spaces. Many places in France, the United States (Miami), Mexico, Italy, and Greece have had the opportunity to appreciate their works, where they exhibit regularly. They were present at the Urban Nation Biennale in Berlin with their piece "Learning to Fly" in September 2019.
The artist's works
In Spain, they have exhibited in the most important cities, such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia. Joan Coderch and Javier Malavia currently work in Valencia, in an industrial building of 600 square meters, which also serves as a private exhibition space for their entire collection.
