About “los encantos de Cartujo”
J.A.M Montoya “los encantos de Cartujo” is a striking silver gelatin print created in 2004. The photograph, measuring 89 x 74 cm (sheet: 92.50 x 76 cm; framed: 110 x 94 cm), belongs to a limited edition of only 3 signed prints. This powerful work forms part of Montoya’s acclaimed Sanctorum series, exhibited across Spain from 2001 to 2010, including at institutions such as EMAC in Salamanca and the Es Baluard Museum in Palma de Mallorca.
The image shows a hooded figure clad in a monastic robe, emerging from deep shadows. His face, partially obscured, evokes secrecy and introspection. Yet, the composition surprises with a provocative twist—a phallic object, wrapped and exposed, juts out from beneath the robe. This bold contrast between sacred and erotic suggests a confrontation between desire and doctrine. The photograph challenges the viewer to reconsider traditional ideas of holiness, repression, and the human body.
Thematically, Los encantos del Cartujo blends mysticism with taboo. It evokes the aesthetics of Spanish baroque chiaroscuro while confronting modern questions about sexuality and identity. In this way, JAM Montoya Cartujo becomes more than a visual play—it turns into a reflection on religious iconography, irony, and personal mythology.
J.A.M Montoya
J.A.M Montoya, born in Spain, has built a career exploring the border between mysticism, sensuality, and the human figure. Since the 1980s, his photographic work has examined themes such as identity, devotion, and the erotic sacred. Through carefully composed black-and-white images, he often invites reflection on how the sacred and profane coexist.
Montoya’s series Sanctorum became a turning point. It pushed the boundaries of Spanish contemporary photography and was widely exhibited and published. In works like Los encantos del Cartujo, he draws from religious art history while subverting it. His approach merges technical precision with poetic provocation. Notably, scholars like Mª Eulalia Martínez Zamora have studied his work in academic contexts, recognizing its layered cultural relevance.
To explore more, visit institutional archives such as Es Baluard Museum or publications related to Montoya’s career and the Sanctorum series.
