Javier André De La Cruz

Hunting for water
JAVIER ANDRÈ DE LA CRUZ

13 March - 14 April 2025

In a world where feeling truly understood has become increasingly difficult, many of us struggle to navigate everyday life. Social structures often stand in contradiction to fundamental human needs and instincts.

As Dr. Gabor Maté observes in his book The Myth of Normal: “This is not a ‘normal’ condition, but a reflection of a society that has lost its way and places profit and productivity above human connection and genuine well-being.”

In response, Javier André de la Cruz explores in his work the parallels between inherent social structures within animal communities and the diminished sense of belonging in our own society.

This exhibition weaves together personal experience with a universal longing for connection. Hunting for Water serves as an allegory for the human search for fulfillment — a pursuit often shaped by misguided means and self-destructive patterns. It reflects on individual desires and shortcomings while simultaneously offering a critique of a society that leads us astray. Within this tension between personal experience and social reality, a visual dialogue emerges, bridging the gap between the individual and our collective search for belonging.

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JAVIER ANDRÈ DE LA CRUZ

Born in Vienna in 1999 and raised in Comas, Peru, Javier André De La Cruz navigates the complex structures of community and society in his artistic practice. His works invite an in-depth engagement with the social and emotional dynamics of our time, weaving personal experience with philosophical reflection into a layered narrative.

He draws parallels between cohesion and protective behavior within animal communities and the often-fragmented social bonds of human society. His works reveal a profound sense of connection to the animals depicted, which serve as symbols of an inner refuge — a place of calm and safety. Cows, horses, and dogs appear frequently in his paintings, either alone or in groups, embedded within suggested, organic landscapes. These representations demonstrate remarkable anatomical precision and technical skill, capturing the animals’ movement and vitality. Soft, gentle, and luminous tones are set in contrast to the weight of darker colors and forms, creating an aesthetic tension that mirrors the conceptual dichotomies at the core of his artistic practice.