Event 5: Singular Spaces: From the Eccentric to the Extraordinary in Spanish Art Environments

  The Singular Spaces exhibition at the Fowler Museum was definitely my favorite of the five events I attended. The artworks were more artistically pleasing to me than the others. Each artwork had its own narrative and tells of the experiences each artists had that relates to the artwork. What is special about each artists creation is that they are not for monetary gains, but for personal expression.

  My favorite piece at the exhibition is a picture of a museum that the artist dedicated to his friend. The artist's friend was also a fisherman and was dragged overboard to his death during a storm in 1959. The gravity of losing a close friend led him to discontinue his career as a fishermen. I really like the Spanish feel of this piece with the choices of color. It looks like a miniature boat covered by objects related to the sea. There's also different country flags placed around the "boat" which I think displays the artists sympathy to all who has lost their loved ones at sea. I believe this memorial is a symbol of true brotherhood. 

  This labyrinth created by Josep Pujiula i Vila using branches found in the area demonstrates perseverance and meticulousness. Although it is an artistic creation, the creation of the labyrinth also required physical labor. To find or cut branches of perfect length and to carefully weave them together takes a lot of patience. This piece is also a reflection on our lives as a whole. To create something so fine and complicated takes time and dedication. For us to be successful in life, we must stay positive and be passionate. There may be times when we are lost or lose hope, but there are better times ahead of us.

  This castle-like art piece reminds me of the architecture in the Disney movie "Under the Sea." It brought back fond memories of my childhood where I would pretend to be the king of a castle. This artwork shows that symmetry is not everything. The combination of the curvature and patterns sculpted onto the walls shows the beauty of handcraft.

  I feel like it's hard to appreciate these works of art without being physically present at each place. There's a lot of minute details that cannot be seen from the outside and there are also more aesthetics that can be found inside as well.