FUSTER GIMPERA, Joan

Joan Fuster i Gimpera (Torroella de Montgrí, Girona, January 25, 1917 - September 4, 2011) was a prominent Spanish painter, draftsman, and watercolorist, remembered fundamentally for being the creator and maximum exponent of estrambotisme (estrambotism), in addition to his notable marine landscapes and surrealist-themed works. He was born in the Empordà town of Torroella de Montgrí, a place with which he maintained a close vital and artistic bond throughout his life. From a young age, he showed an innate talent for drawing and painting, developing a refined technique, especially in the field of watercolor. In 1974, Fuster Gimpera formally baptized and founded estrambotisme, a singular artistic movement conceived as a playful, critical, and wacky derivation of surrealism. This current defended that any element, without losing its identity, could transform into something else by defying conventional logic. Although for years it remained relegated to his studio, the movement regained international visibility at the beginning of the 21st century thanks to continuity efforts driven by other Girona-based artists. He is highly acclaimed for his delicate and luminous watercolors of marine themes, ports, coves of the Costa Brava (such as Palamós, Calella de Palafrugell, or Cap de Begur), and rural corners. Fuster Gimpera remained active and linked to art and creation until an advanced age, passing away in his hometown in September 2011 at the age of 94.