Seda de caballo [Horse Silk] is the most comprehensive exhibition on Manuel Vilariño’s work to date. Photographer and poet, 2007 Photography National Award. Curated by Fernando Castro Flórez the exhibition shows the artist’s career through a selection of photographs, installations and videos toguether with a scent of his poetic production, from 1980 to date. The exhibition is not displayed as a retrospective; rather, it shows the most outstanding elements of his aesthetics and allows us to review the fertile career of this creator, with such crucial aspects as the poetic background and the search for a contemplative attitude.
From a more formal, conceptual order other than a chronological point of view, the way the works have been selected and arranged in the rooms responds to the desire to maintain a poetic, thematic and environmental continuity that gives meaning to the layout and to all of Vilariño's work as a whole.
The setting up of the exhibition at the MAROC takes viewers from Vilariño’s particular perspective of animals and his reinterpretation of a classical genre as still life – Vilariño as a great master of still life– to landscapes visions closely related to melancholy in a permanent and subtle dialogue between life and death.
The series corresponding to the eighties and nineties –birds, skulls, and bestiaries, including their famous polyptychs Los Pájaros, Cabezas/Sueños– conform the first stage of the visit. The intensity of Bestias involuntarias stands out, a series of black and white photographs in which animals stares us in the face. They are portrayed together along with tools, in an assembly between magic and everyday life, between nature and human intervention.
Considered the centrepiece of the show, Paraíso fragmentado colour shows up in a playful transition from black and white in this piece. An emblematic work, a mosaic of still lifes made up of fifteen photographs in which a bird, a lizard or a snake lie inert, creating among all the images a unique composition that symbolically alludes to devotion and a yearning for resurrection.
From here, the focus is on the works of the following decades, around year 2000, such as Crucifixión de los siete cielos or Cruz de luz borrada –still lifes that compose ritual scenes in which colour acquires special relevance. His series of still lifes of candles and skulls –Membrillos, Granadas– represent apparently simple compositions in which a butterfly on an open Mass Book, or some decomposing fruits, remain in the shadow of the flame of a burning candle. Scenes in which there is room for mythological allusions and references to the cycle of life and death which bring us back to the essentials of the classic genre.
The exhibition includes examples of his production from the last two decades, mainly his photographs of mountains and oceans, such as Al despertar; Lejano interior; or Montaña negra, nube blanca. Works that seems to be more scenic, and yet have a strong sense of drama, almost tragic, although with a look and breadth of horizon as if opened to hope.
There is a key presence of poetry in this circular tour through Vilariño's work: fragments of his poetry books Ruinas al despertar, and Animal insomne accompany the visitor from the access stairs to the exhibition; and a selection from the series of haikus written during confinement –an unpublished work titled Elogio del confin– complete and become integral part of his photographs. The video screened in the MARCO's main lobby room also delves into this aspect –the artist talks here about his creative process, in action and contemplation at the same time.
In the curator's words, all of Manuel Vilariño's work is a vital self-portrait. His thoughts and emotions in relation to life and nature, his environment, his studies in biology, his intimate connection with the nearest territory. Alongwith this idea, the exhibition is conceived keeping in mind his three qualities of observer, photographer and poet which give shape to his work and career; the relationship between biology, photography and literature has always come along.
Exhibition Catalogue
The exhibition includes a catalogue plublished in 2013 by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, with texts by Fernando Castro Flórez (exhibition curator), Alberto Ruiz de Samaniego and Miguel Ángel Hernández Navarro. It also inlcudes a poem by the artist and images of the exhibited works.
Documentation
The Library-Documentation Center at MARCO has prepared a documentary dossier, which brings together links to articles and other information about Manuel Vilariño which is available on the website www.marcovigo.com at Library/News and Exhibitions/Present. Furthermore, as part of the exhibition, one of the galleries a selection of catalogues, publications and graphics is displayed.
Learning Activities
For groups of Pre-School, Primary, Secondary, High School and others.
With the support of: Obra Social “la Caixa”
From 17 March, 2020
Place: exhibition halls and Laboratorio das Artes
Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 1:30pm / For booking please call +34 986 113900/113904
Information & guided tours
The exhibition staff is available for any questions or information, as well as regular guided tours:
Due to the health regulations, the Museum’s guided tours are limited to 5 people (including Museum staff).
Daily at 6pm
‘A la carte’ group tours, please call +34 986 113904 / 113900 to book
Photograph:
Manuel Vilariño
Lejano Interior, 23 (detail), 2008
©Manuel Vilariño, VEGAP, Madrid 2020