About
Pepe España (*1930 in Málaga as José Luis Jiménez España – †2007 in Sutz-Lattrigen, Switzerland) was born a stone’s throw from the birthplace of his great compatriot and “artistic older brother” Pablo Picasso. He grew up amidst the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War which had a lasting impact throughout his childhood. During years of travel, he lived in Madrid and Cuenca (Castile), Barcelona and Paris.
The first encounter between Pepe España and Andreas Röthlisberger took place in June 1971 in Cuenca, the then informal cultural capital, where they met for the first time at the famous DULCINEA Bar. From this meeting, a great friendship developed that lasted until the artist's death in December 2007. As early as 1972, through the mediation of Andreas Röthlisberger’s family, Pepe España was invited to Rothrist, Switzerland, by RIVELLA’s CEO, Dr. Robert Barth, where he worked in a spacious studio and exhibited his works at RIVELLA’s facilities. Subsequently, Pepe España was repeatedly invited by Andreas Röthlisberger to Switzerland to paint and showcase his paintings and drawings in various exhibitions. All of the artist's exhibitions from 1972 onwards were organized by Andreas Röthlisberger.
After 10 years of intense work in Bern’s old town and another 6 years in Kirschgarten in Aarau, Pepe España married Rosa Laubscher and settled in her cozy home with a studio by Lake Biel. In Rosa Laubscher, Pepe España found a wonderful life companion who supported him, especially in his later years, as his health declined and his blindness gradually worsened.
«Making art
is a serious
business»
PEPE ESPAÑA
It was characteristic of him that he applied his figures and compositions directly onto canvases and large-format papers with a pen or brush, without drafting, without subsequent correction. An intensive creative period was followed by a period of recharging, absorbing the environment, living, making contact with friends, spending time in his southern Malaga.
From 1974 to 1984 he lived and worked in an old town house in Bern. 1984 to 1990 he created an important part of his work at Kirschgarten 13 in Aarau, from 1990 until his death on 27.12.2007 he lived and worked on Lake Biel in Sutz-Lattrigen.
His works are mainly in private collections in Switzerland, Germany and Spain.
