31/01 – 11/04/2026
An exhibition by Isabel Banal
With guest works by Ignasi Aballí, Helena Almeida, Rosa Amorós, Esteve Banal, Ester Baulida, Joan Brossa, Cabello-Carceller, Jordi Canudas, Elena Carbonell, Esther Ferrer, Ramon Guillen-Balmes, Guerrilla Girls, Eva Lootz, Cori Mercadé, Fina Miralles, Pere Noguera, Perejaume, Carme Sanglas, Susana Solano and a small selection of popular culture.
Curated by Glòria Picazo
Opening, Saturday, January 31 at 12:00 p.m.
A CLOSE LOOK. Glòria Picazo
I would like to begin this presentation of Isabel Banal's exhibition “Arran de Terra” by borrowing Korean writer Han Kang’s idea, which inspire her to write “The White Book”. One day, the author decided to write about white things, and to begin, in front of the blank page, the first thing she did was a simple list, in which she included snow, rice, salt, the blank sheet of paper, etc. And it is precisely with a similar blank sheet that we begin the list of white things which have form the backbone of Isabel Banal's work: the canvas, the table, the notebook, the pigment, the porcelain plates, the plaster figurines, the lambs in a nativity scene, etc. A white halfway between a sensitive, fragile, discreet, even silent approach, and a logical, serialised, geometric, recurring, even mathematical white, if we observe it through the analytical lens of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and his “Observations on Colour”. A white that has little to do with the traditional attributes of this colour; purity, cleanliness, innocence, goodness, but which in this case is more a white distilled from a series of key themes within her work; nature, landscape, popular culture, the passage of time, the self (woman). This white would be like a distillate of earth that loses all original appearance of colour and texture but which keeps the aroma and flavour of the earth intact. At the same time there is a certain echo of oriental culture, minimal patterns of intervention, a focus on the smallest detail, an approach to nature with absolute respect, and, hovering above her entire intervention, the resounding rejection of any hint of spectacularity. And in this case, do we recognise common features with this haiku by Basho?
On life’s journey
plowing a small field
going and returning
The exhibition not only brings together a fair number of artworks which place special emphasis on the aforementioned themes, but also, the artist wished to “invite” other artists artworks to be part of her project; evidence of need, that is not always manifested. No artistic career is built in absolute isolation, but rather is built on the basis of real or imagined encounters, of lived affections, of shared affinities, both personal and professional. For this reason, the individual exhibition project is accompanied by constellations of guest artworks which will help visualise that personal and professional universe which has been shaped throughout her career.
In conclusion to this introduction, it is worth turning to two great creators of Catalan culture, who we can certainly recognise as a subtle latency in the work of Isabel Banal. Many of her projects make me think of Joan Miró, who stated “I work like a gardener”, confessing that he got the energy to paint by keeping his feet on the ground. Also with J.V. Foix and his “stone poems”, made using natural discoveries while walking around Cap de Creus; two new possible guests to an imaginary meeting.
Glòria Picazo
Activities Related to the Exhibition:
WHAT THE EARTH REMEMBERS
Reflections on the exhibition
Thursday 5/2/26
From 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
At ACVIC Centre d’Arts Contemporànies
A conversation between Cinto Torrents, a member of the Càtedra del Mon Rural de la UVIC and the artist Isabel Banal
ISABEL BANAL AND THE POETICS OF ARTISTS’ BOOKS
A conversation between Glòria Picazo and Isabel Banal
Thursday 26/2/26
From 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
At the Biblioteca Pilarin Bayés
With Isabel Banal, artist, and Glòria Picazo, curator of the exhibition ARRAN DE TERRA
TIME IN YOUR POCKET
A workshop for families at the Miniespai
Saturday 7/3/26
From 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
At ACVIC Centre d’Arts Contemporànies
In collaboration with the Biblioteca Pilarin Bayés
A GUIDED VISIT TO THE EXHIBITION ARRAN DE TERRA
Saturday 21/3/26
From 12 p.m. to 13 p.m.
At ACVIC Centre d’Arts Contemporànies
With Glòria Picazo, curator of the exhibition ARRAN DE TERRA
THINGS CONTAINED IN THE HUMAN BODY
A ludic guided visit
Saturday 11/4/26
From 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
At ACVIC Centre d’Arts Contemporànies
GUIDED VISITS
Free guided visits to the exhibition
Guided visit for students in primary, secondary schools, and further education. Also informal education groups, social, cultural, families, and leisure organisations.
More information and bookings: 93 885 37 04 o