Barcelona is immersed in a unique artistic experience with the exhibition “Art and Nature”, which will be on display at CaixaForum Barcelona (Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8) until January 14, 2024.
This international event highlights the convergence of great masters and their shared fascination with nature, a theme that is even more relevant today, where the climate and ecological crisis is becoming increasingly palpable.
More than 80 works by renowned artists, from modern icons such as Picasso, Kandinsky, Miró and Le Corbusier to contemporary creators such as Pamela Rosenkranz and Neri Oxman, come together in a creative dialogue that explores the relationship between art and nature.
The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Musée National d’Art Moderne-Centre d’Art Georges Pompidou, covers various disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, film and design.
The thematic tour, chronologically structured in four areas – “Metamorphosis”, “Mimicry”, “Creation”, and “Threat” – offers a panoramic view of art and nature throughout the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century.
From a fascination with organic and microscopic forms to a concern for the current threat of irreversible change in the natural environment, the exhibition offers a profound reflection on our role in the world we inhabit.
The harmonious link between Art and Nature
Throughout history, art has found inspiration in the forms and mysteries of nature. The exhibition highlights how, during the first third of the 20th century, the advent of microscopic photography techniques revolutionized the perception of life, revealing previously invisible dimensions.
This aesthetic based on the biology of microorganisms led artists to elaborate new ways of observing and representing nature, presenting elements such as fern leaves, waterfalls and sea beds in almost abstract compositions.
In the second half of the 20th century, art merged more intimately with nature. Movements such as Italian arte povera and American land art explore the use of natural elements in works of art, creating a diverse and striking visual repertoire.
In more recent times, scientific technologies and biotechnology have introduced biomaterials and natural processes into artistic creation, generating conceptual works that evolve like living organisms.
A thematic journey from “Metamorphosis” to “Menace”.
The exhibition begins its thematic journey with the “Metamorphosis” section, where works such as “Cactus II” by Julio Gonzalez and “Tusalava”, a film by Len Lye, explore the categories of the natural and the cultural.
From bronze sculptures to enigmatic paintings, the exhibition is a showcase of artistic expressions that invite visitors to reflect on nature, from its beauty to the threats it faces.
