The ENAIRE Foundation opens the exhibit "Pablo Serrano. Sculpture as a living object" in Las Naves de Gamazo in Santander

The ENAIRE Foundation premieres the exhibit in the Naves de Gamazo, in Santander, titled Pablo Serrano. Sculpture as a living object, an artist whose method of working relied on experimentation. The works that are part of this exhibit help us understand how Pablo Serrano experienced with materials, volumes and concepts around light, space and emptiness.

This exhibit is the result of a collaboration between the ENAIRE Foundation and the Government of Aragon through the Pablo Serrano Aragonese Institute of Contemporary Art and Culture in Zaragoza, where, as per the sculptor's wishes, his legacy is preserved. It also reflects the interest of the ENAIRE Foundation in projects that delve into the work of the artists present in its collection and offer the public a new perspective on contemporary Spanish art. 

This exhibit is the result of a collaboration between the ENAIRE Foundation and the Government of Aragon

After various painting and photography exhibits in the Naves de Gamazo, Pablo Serrano. Sculpture as a living object offers people in Cantabria a unique opportunity to enjoy sculpture in its essence, and the profound insight of its creator, a sculptor who is essential to understanding 20th-century Spanish sculpture.

Lola Durán, the exhibit curator, notes that "the works on display reflect Serrano's concerns regarding matter and emptiness, as well as his deep commitment to humanity. He is a reflective artist who searches for answers to the essence of existence, the sense of art and life".

The Pablo Serrano. Sculpture as a living object exhibit consists of 44 original pieces. A selection of sculptures, drawings, collages, letters and documents that dates back to 1956 and presents the first abstract series of this artist: Iron, Fire and Drama, Rhythms in space and Vaults for mankind.

The sculpture Vault for mankind - Tramontana was purchased in 1982 as part of the great expansion of the ENAIRE Collection of contemporary art, using funds from the 1% that is allocated to what is now the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda to preserve Spain's cultural heritage. The reason behind this investment was to decorate and give a cultural welcome to visitors to a revamped and modernised airport facility as it received VIPs, tourists, fans and journalists who, on the occasion of the 1982 World Cup, landed in Spain. The sculpture, which reflects on man's need to have a shelter from physical and emotional external aggressions, today welcomes the public to Naves de Gamazo, a place of shelter, security and reflection.

Sections of the exhibit:

The works on display at this showing belong to the Pablo Serrano Aragonese Institute of Contemporary Art and Culture (Government of Aragon), located in Zaragoza, where, as per the sculptor's wishes, his legacy is preserved. This project was made possible thanks to the collaboration between the Government of Aragon and the ENAIRE Foundation.

The exhibit is structured into 4 sections:

Hierros (Iron)

The series called Hierros was the first that Serrano pursued after arriving Spain following some time in Uruguay. These sculptures are made up of large sheets of iron and waste materials that the artist welded to create a composition through which he proposed "bringing order to chaos", a reflection that highlights the discourse of his first abstract series.

Dramas y quemas (Drama and fire)

Quemas are sculptures consisting of a metal structure that contains a geometric shape inside made of a combustible material, designed to be burned in a happening.

The origin of these works lies in the sculptor's reflection that all things perish, but they don't fully disappear after their death; rather, they leave "the presence of an absence".

Ritmos (Rhythms) 

The first works that reflect this philosophy are drawings, with obsessive rhythms, made by the artist using radiography. In a text by Serrano entitled "Dynamics in Space (Reality and Being)", written in 1957, he explains: "The spontaneous gesture of the hand enveloping space in a rapid impulse acquires, through a sudden, improvised instinct, an alternating need between calm and obsession".

These drawings turn into sculptures made with welded metallic rods that are suspended in midair.

Vaults for man

"In life, man does nothing but make his own vault. On   
 this philosophical principle of man and his space, I come to understand his anguish, which is reflected especially in our days, and around him he carves a new space, which will only differ from the hole that is the tomb in its shape and ornamentation". With these words at the 31st Venice Biennale, Serrano in 1962 presented the reflections that gave rise to this new series of sculptures.

Activities for the public

The Naves de Gamazo, which were created with the clear intention of bringing art and culture closer to society, has developed an extensive educational programme aimed at associations and groups that do not usually visit this type of space.

For this exhibit, the Naves de Gamazo outreach programme has designed specific guided tours to show the works to all audiences in a way that is fun and approachable, as well as to schoolchildren and to groups with specific needs.

To encourage the public to take part in the events, the centre has a website and social media sites with up-to-date information on the exhibits and activities that are taking place. It also has a page on the social media platform Instagram.

Low- and high-quality photos for release:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ChWSc_FL6r0Ud8HvlVR8rnHnFwZuRqeF?usp=sharing

Place:

The Naves de Gamazo

Avda. Severiano Ballesteros 3. 39004 Santander

Dates:

From 2 March to 4 June 2023

Schedule:

Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm, and from 4 to 8 pm.

Sundays and holidays from 11 am to 3 pm.

Closed Mondays, 24 and 25 December and 1 and 6 January.

Free guided hours:

Tuesday to Friday, at 5 and 6:30 pm.

Mornings reserved for groups (associations, schools, etc.);

Saturdays at 12:30, 5 and 6:30 pm.

Telephone: 942 502 013

Organised by: ENAIRE Foundation.

More information:

www.navesdegamazo.com and www.fundacionenaire.com

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, it provides en route control services for all flights and overflights from five control centres in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Gran Canaria and Palma, as well as approach services to every airport in the country.

In addition, 45 control towers receive ENAIRE's communication, navigation and surveillance services, and 21 airports, including the country's busiest, rely on its aerodrome control services.

ENAIRE is Europe's fourth largest air traffic manager and participates in the A6 Alliance, a coalition of air navigation providers responsible for over 80% of European air traffic, and which is seeking to modernise the air traffic management system. It is also a member of other international alliances promoting the Single European sky, such as SESAR Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO and ICAO.

ENAIRE, as the agency appointed by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda to implement the U-space system in Spain, will be the provider of the Common Information Services (CIS), which are essential for administering U-space services to drones and Urban Air Mobility, in interaction with local air traffic control services, so that all types of aircraft can fly safely in the same airspace.

ENAIRE has received the highest score in Europe on the aviation safety key performance indicator. It has also been awarded the EFQM 500 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.