This exhibition, presented by Afundación - Obra Social ABANCA and part of the 37th San Sebastián Fantasy and Horror Film Week, reimagines Franz Kafka's literary classic. Instead of a man transforming into an insect, the narrative unfolds in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic cockroaches, serving as a social commentary on the true nature of monstrosity.
The opening was attended by Culture delegate Nuria Alzaga, artist Stèphane Levallois, curator Asier Mensuro, Film Week director Josemi Beltrán, and ABANCA representative Iñaki Celaya. Alzaga emphasized the CBA's role as a "living space" where culture is both displayed and experienced.
The exhibition showcases all 61 original ink and watercolor illustrations created for the French publisher Futurópolis - Gallimard. It also includes two acrylic sketches depicting Gregor Samsa's father and sister, and five large-format acrylic portraits of Franz Kafka, all created exclusively for this exhibition.
Levallois, nicknamed "Mister Monster" in Hollywood for his creature designs in films like Harry Potter and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, found the three-dimensional adaptation of Kafka's work a significant challenge. His meticulous, miniature-like detail and masterful use of watercolor echo the techniques of great art historical masters.
Stèphane Levallois (Paris, 1970) is a prominent figure in contemporary creature design for cinema. His artistic focus lies in monstrosity and the fantastic, which inspired him to invert Kafka's premise, turning a cockroach into a man within a cockroach society.
The exhibition is curated by Asier Mensuro, who holds a degree in Art History and works as an independent curator, researcher, and critic specializing in contemporary art, comics, and film.
