Mysteries of Columbus. Cristóbal Gabarrón.

Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Mysteries of Columbus

INDEX

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INTRODUCTION OF THE SERIES

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EXHIBITION ROUTE Amsterdam – (Holand, Artzuid) - May 22 - September 22, 2013 Genk – (Belgium) - June 7, 2012 - September 30, 2012 Hasselt – (Belgium) - April 22, 2012 to May 6, 2012 Alden Biesen (Belgium) - February 4 - April 8, 2012 Avilés-Gijón (Spain) - July 13 - November 30, 2011 Jerez (Spain) - November 14, 2008 to December 5, 2008 Sevilla (Spain - September 10, 2008 to November 30, 2008 Estoril, Lisboa (PORTUGAL) - June 24, 2008 to September 7, 2008 Cáceres (Spain) - July 11, 2007 to September 9, 2007 Alicante (Spain) - February 24, 2007 to April 30, 2007 Lorca (Spain) - May 6, 2007 to June 10, 2007 New York (U.S.A.) - October 9, 2006 to November 27, 2006 Madrid (Spain) -July 20, 2006 - September 25, 2006 Santiago de Compostela (Spain) - June 15, 2006 - July 15, 2006 Valladolid (Spain) - April 28, 2006 to June 11, 2006 Valencia (Spain) - March 21, 2006 to April 26, 2006

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THE SERIES

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CREATIVE PROCESS

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SKETCHES

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INTRODUCTION OF THE SERIES

The work belongs to the sculptural series “The Silences of Columbus” created by Cristobal Gabarron, represents one of the passages outlined by the artist within the previous biographical study of navigator “never seen people dressed or such ships”. This piece is the third of a set of ten sculptures which constitute a tribute to the human adventure and knowledge caused by the arrival of the Spanish to the American Continent. The traditional rounded and suggestive forms which the sculptor contributes with fiberglass, reflects on this occasion, intentionally, eroticism, the primitivism and human nakedness.

Along with them are zoomorphic and marine references which live within a fusion of lines and shapes that find their final appearance in a rich and contrasted polychrome, own and unique characteristic of Gabarron, colors flat and rounded, live with rituals or dynamic flows of color to configure a live sculpture and in the constant motion that imprints sunlight.

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EXHIBITION ROUTE

Amsterdam – (Holand, Artzuid ) - May 22, 2013 to September 22, 2013 Genk – (Belgium) - June 7, 2012 to September 30, 2012 Hasselt – (Belgium) - April 22, 2012 to May 6, 2012 Alden Biesen (Belgium) - February 4, 2012 to April 8, 2012 Avilés-Gijón (Spain) - July 13, 2011 to November 30, 2011 Jerez (Spain) - November 14, 2008 to December 5, 2008 Sevilla (Spain) - September 10, 2008 to November 30, 2008 Estoril, Lisboa (Portugal) - June 24, 2008 to September 7, 2008 Cáceres (Spain) - July 11, 2007 to September 9, 2007 Alicante (Spain) - February 24, 2007 to April 30, 2007 Lorca (Spain) - May 6, 2007 to June 10, 2007 New York (U.S.A.) - October 9, 2006 to November 27, 2006 Madrid (Spain) -July 20, 2006 - September 25, 2006 Santiago de Compostela (Spain) - June 15, 2006 - July 15, 2006 Valladolid (Spain) - April 28, 2006 to June 11, 2006 Valencia (Spain) - March 21, 2006 to April 26, 2006 5

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Place: Vondelpark De Lairessestraat & Cornelis Schuyt Straat Dates: May 22,2013 to September 22, 2013

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This sculpture is part of the International Sculpture Route Amsterdam - ARTZUID 2013 curated by Henk van Os and organized by Artzuid Foundation.

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GENK, BELGIUM

Place: The Bokrijk Open Art Museum / Parallel Project – Manifesta 9 Dates: June 7, 2012 to September 30, 2012

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HASSELT, BELGIUM

Place: Downtown Dates: April 22, 2012 to May 6, 2012

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ALDEN BIESEN, BELGIUM

Place: Alden Biesen Castle Dates: Febrery 4, 2012 to April 8, 2012

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AVILĂŠS-GIJON, SPAIN

Place: Niemeyer Center Dates: July 13, 2011 to November 30, 2011

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JEREZ, JEREZ, SPAIN

Place: City Center Dates: November 14, 2008 to December 5, 2008

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SEVILLA, SPAIN

Place: Plaza Nueva.

Dates: September 10, 2008 to November 30, 2008

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ESTORIL, LISBOA PORTUGAL

Place: Estoril Casino Gardens Dates: June 24, 2008 to September 7, 2008

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Cรกceres, Spain

Place: Caceres Historic Site Dates: July 11, 2007 to September 9, 2007

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Alicante, Spain

Place: Santa Barbara Castle Alicante Sculpture Symposium Dates: February 24, 2007 to April 30, 2007

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LORCA, SPAIN

Place: Alameda de la Constituci贸n Dates: May 6, 2007 to June 10, 2007

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NEW YORK U.S.A.

Exact Location: Mitchel Square Broadway & 168 th Street Fechas: October 9, 2006 to November 27, 2006

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Madrid, Spain

Place: Paseo del Prado.

Exact Location: Paseo del Prado in front of The Prado Museum Dates: July 20, 2006 to September 25, 2006

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Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Place: Parliament of the City of Galicia Dates: June 15, 2006 to July 15, 2006

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Valladolid, Spain

Place: Valladolid Downtown Exact Location: Acera Recoletos & Campo Grande Dates: April 28, 2006 to June 11, 2006

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Valencia, spain

Place: IVAM (Institut Valenciå d’Art Modern/ The Valencian Institute of Modern Art) Dates: March 21, 2006 to April 26, 2006 Exhibition curated by Donald Kuspit and realized

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THE SERIES

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Los Silencios de Col贸n I The Mysteries of Columbus I Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 255 x 120 x 110 cm.

88 1/2 x 47 x 43 inches 38 2006

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Los Silencios de Col贸n II The Mysteries of Columbus II Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 240 x 160 x 115 cm.

94 陆 x 63 x 45 in.

2006

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Los Silencios de Colón III The Mysteries of Columbus III Cristóbal Gabarrón Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 248 x 110 x 95 cm.

97 ½ x 43 x 37 ½ in.

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Los Silencios de Col贸n IV The Mysteries of Columbus IV Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 240 x 133 x 110 cm.

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Los Silencios de Col贸n VI The Mysteries of Columbus VI Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 276 x 197 x 125 cm.

102 x 59 x 47 in.

2006

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Los Silencios de Colón VII The Mysteries of Columbus VII Cristóbal Gabarrón Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 250 x 140 x 95 cm.

108 ½ x 77 ½ x 49 in.

48 2006

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Los Silencios de Colón VIII The Mysteries of Columbus VIII Cristóbal Gabarrón Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 250 x 160 x 150 cm.

98 ½ x 55 x 37 ½ in.

2006

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Los Silencios de Col贸n IX The Mysteries of Columbus IX Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 300 x 220 x 140 cm.

98 陆 x 63 x 60 in.

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Los Silencios de Col贸n X The Mysteries of Columbus X Crist贸bal Gabarr贸n Original Unique Sculpture Polychrome Fiberglass 300 x 222 x 125 cm.

118 x 87 陆 x 49 cm 2006

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CREATIVE PROCESS

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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.

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SKETCHES

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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, 67

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).

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