Riffing on the revisionist ideas of these seminal writers, Hernández turns his attention to the classical male gaze in painting, questioning it, reclaiming it, and queering it. Instead of female nudes, we encounter male forms, shifting the power dynamic and forcing the viewer to review gender normative interpretations associated with passive viewing. The artists describes the show as: “my biggest achievement to date because it offers the most complete and immersive expression of a project I began in 2021. It brings together years of exploration—across literature, music, and cinema—into a unified space where each work speaks to the others. Presenting the project as an exhibition allows for a direct, emotional exchange with the audience, turning a long-form, intimate journey into a shared experience. It’s the first time the full scope of the poem can be felt, seen, and inhabited—transforming a personal process into a living, collective moment.”

Hernández trained at Seville University, Madrid Complutense University, and Chelsea College of Art, and is a former studio assistant of Jonathan Yeo – who is Hernández’s champion for The Wick. He said: “it’s a great privilege to be able to nurture emerging talent here in the studio and Alberto is one of several young painters who have gone on to become successful artists in their own right. A talented portraitist, his evocative paintings have an intimacy which pulls you in and encourages the viewer to unpick the narrative. He’s always had a precise eye for composition and I still ask his advice when I’m stuck on one of my own paintings!”

While Hernández’s figures are strikingly realistic, his backgrounds tell a different story, vibrant, fluid and looser brushwork, energetic and emotive, often evoking a distinctive aura around his subjects. These may come from his other influences, from the realm of the non-narrative: reggaetón, flamenco, and Spanish folk music, “where rhythm, longing, and cultural memory converge. The poetic intensity of García Lorca resonates throughout. I am equally shaped by cinema, particularly Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, whose visual melancholy and emotional restraint mirror the tone I seek. My work lives where the classical meets the visceral.”

On June 12th, Hernández will be in conversation with Cultural Manager of the Instituto Cervantes London, Jorge Garriz at the gallery, delving deeper into his inspirations and ambitions as a painter, a chance too to reflect on this meaning of this body of work. “At the same time, I’m beginning research for my next project, letting new ideas slowly take shape. While that unfolds, I’ll be catching up on a number of portrait commissions that have been patiently waiting during the busy exhibition setup.” Hernández is also included in the Capital Group Pride exhibition, opening on June 10th – something close to his heart and “an honor to be part of a show that celebrates queer voices.”