Juan Francisco Casas swaps blue ballpoint for red lipstick in new show

Juan Francisco Casas presents 'La Noche Sexual' at Galería Fernando Pradilla in Madrid, running from June 4 to July 11, 2026. The exhibition marks a departure from his signature blue ballpoint pen technique, replacing it with red lipstick as a primary medium. The title and concept draw from Pascal Quignard's book of the same name, which explores the relationship between image, body, and thought, particularly the connection between mirrors and sex, and symmetry with primal fear. Casas uses Quignard's text not as an illustration but as a trigger for the show. The installation includes large-format canvases, 200 Polaroids, individual works, and a floral sculpture, totaling nine pieces that fill the gallery space. Red is a central motif, historically the first pigment used by humans, associated with carnality, beauty, and death. Casas explains that the color's historical symbolism and psychological impact are intentional. The lipstick adds layers of meaning related to eroticism and seduction, while flowers, rendered in red lipstick, evoke vulvas through symmetry and carnality. The exhibition aims to create an immersive environment that breaks the pictorial space, engaging the viewer in a monochromatic, ambiguous, and unsettling experience.