Regarding one of his 2021 exhibitions, entitled “De nada”, Juan de la Rica stated:

“I like to say that the subject is nothing more than a MacGuffin, to use Hitchcock’s language, a plot excuse for the painting to move forward. I see it a bit like the paradox of figurative painting: we painters are constantly looking for interesting subjects when what is interesting is the painting itself”.

In an interview for Sirocomag, he clarifies that his themes, arduously used in Art History, do not intend to overcome their superficial treatment. However, he understands that they may arouse new readings. In this way, he presents us with imagery that is far from anything new but continues to surprise and absorb us with each representation.

In his statements he claims that drawing is an enhancer of painting itself, stating that he considers it fundamental, “like the foundations of painting”. About the marked melancholy and density that his works exude, he explains that, far from being something intentional, it is the outcome of his intuition when painting.

The protagonists of his paintings -whether humans, animals, gods, or landscapes- are invested with a deep depth, accentuated by the use of color and the cleanness of the drawing. However, this introspection is combined with the superficial halo of pop art present in his work. It is a continuous dichotomous game since, despite his complex conception of painting, he embraces the ironic tone that his figures arouse.