“Primeravez Primavera” – Group Exhibition (March 22 to April 21, San Clemente Cultural Center, Toledo)
Coinciding with the beginning of spring, the AHUESO Association and the Toledo Consortium present a multidisciplinary exhibition featuring works by Arminda Lafuente, Grego López-Aguado, María Bisbal, Paula Fraile, Sandra Gregorio, and Yolanda Redondo. Through their unique approaches—ranging from interior to exterior landscapes—this exhibition invites us to reflect on the challenges involved in creative processes and the idea of “first times.”
María Bisbal places us before a combination of vividly colored canvases and small-format portraits. Textures and nuances emerge as we approach the surface; our gaze comes to rest, only to move on again—no longer contemplating, but scrutinizing—the faces of those confined within minimal spaces, silently conveying a judgment.
“María Bisbal explores the understanding of the individual through the technique of portraiture. She views working in this medium as a social act and seeks to materialize in her work the relationship forged with the portrayed subject—an intellectual and creative process. This type of painting is not simply about physical likeness; a good portrait must be able to capture the psyche and inner world of the subject.
Also, the portrait not only offers us an internal and external image of the individual but also serves as a reflection of contemporary society—just as it has throughout history, often (though not exclusively) portraying those in positions of power. This duality is also present in the artist’s work: on one hand, she fulfills institutional commissions; on the other, she selects subjects from her daily life, portraying them in a freer, more casual way—yet always with the same presence and prominence.”
Excerpt from the text “The Community and the Individual” written by art curator and cultural manager Laura Pinillos (Described Artists Book, 2018)