Event 3: Singular Spaces

Yesterday I revisited the Fowler museum to see Singular Spaces exhibit. This exhibit was actually a series of pictures that showed various different art environments created independently all over Spain by eight Spanish artists. These artists were unique in that they did not have much of a plan behind their artwork and often simply used whatever materials they had to make these one of a kind environments.

A map depicting the location of all of the art environments showcased in this exhibit

Admittedly I initially had a hard time seeing how this exhibit related to the crossing of art and science. However, I was able to find two artists who used their art to deal with trauma from their lives. In this way these artworks can show a person’s psychological reaction to painful memories.

One of these artists is Julio Basanta López. His environment titled House of God appears to instead depict his inner demons. López has gone through much trauma in his life through the abandonment of his father and the deaths of his brother and eldest son. He built physical representations of this trauma from bricks that were covered in concrete. The result are these looming figures who loom all over his house and tells a story of a man haunted by the past.

The other artist was José Maria Garrido. He was a former fisherman who quit sailing once a close friend died at sea. He instead started building a museum dedicated to the sea and his friend. The museum was a boat shaped building to which he added masts and sails and added photographs of old ships, signs with maritime proverbs, and various objects gathered from beaches. To me it was interesting that Garrido decided to celebrate the sea despite his psychological pain associated with it.

I would definently recommend checking this exhibit out. All of the artists, not just López and Garrido, have created fascinating works of art that truly must be seen.

 A picture of me in front of the exhibit. Museum employees no longer are allowed to take pictures with guest so this is the next best thing.