Alhambra Towers

Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Alhambra Towers

INDEX

4

INTRODUCTION OF THE SERIES

7

EXHIBITION ROUTE Valencia (Spain) - May 6 to December, 2011.

Madrid (Spain) - February 10 to April 30, 2011.

Lisboa (Portugal) - September 10, to December 12, 2009 Vigo-Pontevedra (Spain) - : August 13 to 30, 2009.

Santiago de Compostela (Spain) - July 10 to August 9, 2009.

A Coru単a (Spain) - June 9, to July 5, 2009 Murcia (Spain) - April 24 to May 31, 2009 Valladolid (Spain) - February 9, to April 20, 2009.

42

THE SERIES

74

CREATIVE PROCESS

79

SKETCHES

86

ABOUT THE ARTIST

INTRODUCTION OF THE SERIES

The Alhambra has been and will always be an immensely significant reference for the art world. Its silhouette, cut out above the red mountain, and its profile of towers and balconies that rise above the morning light with the first murmurs from the AlbaicĂ­n, the labyrinthine Islamic neighborhood, modified over the centuries, have been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for writers, artists, poets and musicians.

Its history of restorations and additions begins in the 9th century when the first kings of Granada, the Ziritas built various palaces on the hills of the AlbaicĂ­n. After that, the Ziris and later the Al-Ahmar dynasty would rebuild the old fortress area providing it with a complex of rich surrounding buildings and reinforced walls with entry gates such as the one known as the gate of Justice. The arrival of the Catholic monarchs did not mean any decline for the monument; on the contrary, they incorporated new structures to it such as the Palace of Charles the V, so that the Alhambra came to be a fusion of different cultural spaces. The result is an architectural symbiosis that is unique in the world.

On this occasion Gabarr贸n contributes a new sculpture series in homage to the Alhambra, in which color and form constitute the masterstrokes that inspire it, just as silhouette and color scheme are two of the peculiar characteristics of one of the most outstanding monuments of world heritage, the Alhambra.

EXHIBITION ROUTE

Valencia (Spain) - May 6 to December, 2011.

Madrid (Spain) - February 10 to April 30, 2011.

Lisboa (Portugal) - September 10, to December 12, 2009 Vigo-Pontevedra (Spain) - : August 13 to 30, 2009.

Santiago de Compostela (Spain) - July 10 to August 9, 2009.

A Coru単a (Spain) - June 9, to July 5, 2009 Murcia (Spain) - April 24 to May 31, 2009 Valladolid (Spain) - February 9, to April 20, 2009.

VALENCIA, SPAIN

Place: Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias Dates: May 6 to December, 2011.

MADRID, SPAIN

Place: Retiro Park and Independece Square Dates: February 10 to April 30, 2011.

LISBOA, PORTUGAL

Place: Downtown Dates: September 10, to December 12, 2009

VIGO - PONTEVEDRA, SPAIN

Place: Downtown Dates: Auguts 13 to 30, 2009.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN

Place: Downtown and gardens Dates: July 10 to August 9, 2009.

AJEREZ, CORU単A SPAIN

Place: Downtown and Seafront Dates: June 9, to July 5, 2009

MURCIA, SPAIN

Place: Murcia downtown Dates: April 24 to May 31, 2009.

VALLADOLID, Spain

Place: Centro hist贸rico Dates: February 9, to April 20, 2009.

THE SERIES

La Torre del Cad铆 / The Tower of the Judgy Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 425 x 190 x 160 cm.

167 x 75 x 63 in 2007-2008

Torre de las Armas / The Arms Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 450 x 235 x 295 cm.

177 x 92 陆 x 116 in.

2007-2008

Torre de la Vela / The Wath Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 330 x 137 x 208 cm.

130 x 54 x 82 in.

2007-2008

Torre de la Cautiva / The Tower of the Captive Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 360 x 185 x 130 cm.

142 x 73 x 51 in.

2007-2008

Torre de la Rauda / Rauda Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 365 x 200 x 150 cm.

144 x 79 x 59 in.

2007-2008

Torres Bermejas / The Vermilion Towers Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 370 x 180 x 160 cm.

145 陆 x 71 x 63 in.

2007-2008

Torre de las Infantas / The Tower of the Princesses Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 565 x 220 x 170 cm.

222 陆 x 86 陆 x 67 in.

2007-2008

Torre de los Picos / The Tower of the Points Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 310 x 160 x 130 cm.

122 x 63 x 51 in.

2007-2008

Torre de Abu-I-Hayyay / Abu-I-Hayyay麓s Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 350 x 145 x 220 cm.

138 x 57 x 86 陆 in.

2007-2008

Torre del Agua / The Water Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 340 x 210 x 120 cm.

134 x 83 x 47 in.

2007-2008

Torre de la Justicia / The Justice Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 480 x 125 x 193 cm.

189 x 49 x 76 in.

2007-2008

Torre de Comares / Comares Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 350 x 190 x 145 cm.

138 x 75 x 57 in.

2007-2008

Torre de las Damas / The Ladies Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 360 x 160 x 175 cm.

142 x 63 x 69 in.

2007-2008

Torre de los Siete Suelos / The Tower of the Seven Floors Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 565 x 220 x 170 cm.

222 陆 x 86 陆 x 67 in.

2007-2008

Torre Quebrada / Broken Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 370 x 180 x 160 cm.

145 陆 x 71 x 63 in.

2007-2008

Torre del Mihrab / The Mihrab Tower Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 490 x 140 x 148 cm.

193 x 55 x 58 in.

2007-2008

CREATIVE PROCESS

The creative process in which the artist submerges to create a sculptural series of these characteristics, leads him to sketch over 25 sketches on paper, where the cluster of concerns emerge that surely the navigator addresses and Gabarron tries to make his own. As Columbus matured his idea of reaching the Indies, Gabarron modifies strokes, changes colors, amplifies shapes, all to reach the most moldable material, the clay, in it, begins appearing three dimensions and the joys and fears are taking volume, being seen as suggestive and expressive forms that characterize the work of this creator. Similarly the clay that moves into the three-dimensional preliminary sketches, gives rise to small scale models where the development of the principles of broad lines and clear edges, where the color takes the viewer through each of the corners, small scale yet they are made not to be seen in full breadth of the movement but certainly indicate what will be the large set. The color finally takes a naturalistic identity and shapes the view of the spectator, the levels intermingle and the tones alternate with the light. Each color supposes a characteristic, a nuance, definitely an attribute to the shape, its utilization responds not only to aesthetic criteria but foremost to the creative.

SKETCHES

ABOUT THE ARTIST Cristóbal Gabarrón, was born in 1945 in Mula (Murcia) Spain. He received his first training in Valladolid, Spain before pursuing his early artistic career in France and Italy. With over 50 years of artistic expression, Gabarron now resides in both Spain and in the United States.

Far from the aesthetic conventionalism of isthmuses or vanguards, Gabarrón’s work only understands life. His vision of art is clearly anthropocentric. The individual human life and the coexistence and the development of human values are the pillars on which his art and his personal convictions rest.

Gabarron has many milestones in his career that have made an impact on a global scale. The Olympic Mural for the Barcelona Olympic Games (1992), the Encounter Mural for the Universal Exhibition of Seville (1992), the sculptural project “Atlanta Start” (1996), the materialization of the work “Hope for Peace” (1986), the Official Poster for the Millennium Summit and the Millennium Chapel (2000-2001) are all important examples of such milestones in his career. His collaboration with international organizations, such as the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and United Nations demonstrate his fruitful creative period, which still remains today.

Cities around the world have embraced Gabarron’s vision by displaying his public sculptures. Many prominent European and American cities, such as Miami, New York, Madrid, Gdanks, Lisboa, Saint Paul de Vence, Valladolid, Murcia, A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia have

exhibited his works in popular streets and plazas. In addition, several towns have incorporated permanent large public outdoor sculptures which were handcrafted by the artist. Examples of such outdoor sculptures are “Valladolid Gates“, “Color Borough”, “Human Spirit”, “Tecnus”, “Frouida”, “Sky Dome”, “Mullae”, “Tribute to Philip II” and “Metamorphosis”.

Gabarron’s paintings and sculptures have also received extensive attention and recognition from internationally acclaimed museums. Museums such as the Chelsea Art Museum, the IVAM – Valencia Institute of Modern Art, the Museum of Modern Art of Gdanks in Poland, and the Niemeyer Center have all supported and displayed retrospectives of his work. Critics and historians of stature, such as Donald Kuspit, curator and professor of New York University, Kosme de Barañano, Professor of Fine Arts at the Miguel Hernández University, and Julián Zugazagoitia, Director of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at Kansas City, have all taken considerable interest to study and examine Gabarron’s career, which has been abundantly detailed in published literature in recent years.

Since 1992, Gabarrón has been responsible for the gradual establishment of three foundations, in Valladolid, New York and Murcia, where his principal desire is to give back to society through the implementation of artistic and cultural activities and through the creation of awareness of the arts. Information about the foundations can currently be viewed on the foundation’s website (www.gabarron.org).

The Gabarron Foundation About the Artist: www.gabarron.net About the Foundation: www.gabarron.org