There are many spaces in the city that offer artists the opportunity to come together to create wonderful things, to exhibit their art and make themselves known. A space that can also encourage reflection.
Reflection not only on the individual consciousness of each of us, but also on our surroundings and our relationships with others. These artists come together to showcase works that invite precisely that: to reflect, to pause and to admire. This is what is expressed in the writings of the Economic Society of Friends of the Country, which I visit regularly in search of new works and talent.
This art exhibition, which I visited last Tuesday, runs until the 28th of this month and brings together a wide variety of works, including paintings and sculptures, many of which are extremely interesting and which I have enjoyed very much.
At the gallery entrance, the following is stated: Stripped back spaces, isolated figures and restrained gestures construct an intimate territory where painting and sculpture function as places of resistance. Through matter, silence and symbol, the artists open up a space for introspection and for the recovery of a critical gaze from which to rethink our way of being and inhabiting the present.
I think it is a powerful message, and each of those words can then be seen in the two rooms that make up the exhibition.
These two works by the artist Alberto Tarsicio, created using mixed media on canvas, are abstract pieces featuring striking colour contrasts. They immediately caught my eye as I began viewing the art exhibition.
On the other side of the room were three more works by Alberto Tarsicio; two of them, entitled ‘Space door’ and ‘Fotoline’, were both painted in oil on canvas, and I liked them much more than the previous ones.
The third work is called ‘Tropics’, and the colours are striking and beautiful. In all three, I seem to see nature, plants and lots of vegetation, and I liked all three of them very much.
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I then came across three works, one of them in two parts and another in five parts, which were among my favourites, not only because of the way they were executed but also because of the skilful application of the pattern on the canvas and the excellent creation of depth achieved through the use of shadow in the paintings.
All three works are by Ana Pavón and display a superb, contrasting colour scheme, with the shawls standing out for their patterns and beauty. All the works were created in oil on canvas in 2025. The first, a large diptych, is titled ‘Spell’, and the second, a five-part piece, is called ‘Beauty’; both are spectacular. The third is a single-panel work and is called “Modesty”.
The next work is entitled “La cámara de los lores” (The House of Lords) from 2024, created by the artist José Antonio Rengel. It is a piece executed in acrylic spray paint, charcoal and oil on canvas on a stretcher. It conveys a very important message about the fundamental importance of the countryside and all it provides us with, and the attention it should receive in the political sphere and in general.
Next to it was a hat typical of the verdiales; I’m not sure if it was a work of art, as it had no inscription, but it was very eye catching and beautiful.
Next to it were two more works by the same artist: one titled ‘Málaga was here’ from 2025, a mixed-media piece on canvas; and the second, ‘Contemporary Calvary’ from 2026, which consists of a collage and oil on panel.
Upon entering the second room of the exhibition, there were explanatory leaflets about the art show. They were in Spanish, but I will explain them here by translating part of the text.
The leaflet lists the artists who made this wonderful exhibition possible, showcasing young creators who are developing their practice in the city, a territory in constant transformation.
WE ARE HERE is actually a project that began seven years ago and, in this fifth edition, continues to bring together wonderful and diverse artists who come together to foster awareness, create space and offer resistance. Art in the city has undergone an expansion and reconfiguration, with institutions, galleries and independent spaces sustaining the cultural fabric.
It is a project that seeks to foster dialogue between artists, and I believe it truly succeeds in doing so. In a fast paced society marked by noise and sensory overload, art seeks to create a pause for reflection, to make us pause and look.
Painting and sculpture act as open languages between the organic and the spiritual, between tradition and imagination, where the process matters, generating an exercise in awareness.
This project invites us to slow down and inhabit the present, reclaiming a critical gaze.
Once I entered the room, what I saw was different, particularly regarding the sculptures.
This piece was one of my favourites among the sculptures; it is called ‘Throw out’ and I think the symbolism is very clear. It is by the artist FifuLène and is made of stoneware, enamel, an electric pump and water. It is a beautiful water fountain; whilst I stood there for a while, I felt very relaxed, as if I were letting it all out, saying everything I had to say, and feeling relieved. I think that is the message.
The next piece is by the same artist and is called “Metamorphosis”; it also dates from 2025 and is made from wooden frames, glass and sculpted earthenware. There are eight wonderful pieces, each slightly different from the next, with subtle variations.
The next work by the same artist is called “Calligramme”, from the same year, and is made of porcelain and enamels; when you look inside, the shine of the enamel gives the impression that it contains water. Four very well-executed pieces.
“Cheers”, 2022, Patricia Paz, oil on canvas.
“Lana”, 2024, Patricia Paz, oil on canvas.
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“Intuition Guides Me”, 2025, Patricia Paz, ceramics. Of this artist’s three works, this is my favourite; it seems imperfect, yet it has its own charm.
These four works are by Juan Manuel Reyes, created in 2024 using mixed media on canvas. I loved all four; they form a very beautiful series.
“Knot IX”
“Knot VI”
“Knot IV”
“Knot III”
It really has been a wonderful exhibition; as it is situated right in the heart of the historic centre, it attracts many tourists. I am happy to have been able to enjoy it.
Thank you very much for joining me today; I wish you all a very good Sunday. See you soon.
Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
