Acción Poética pays tribute at LABoral to the life and artistic career of Nel Amaro
Work and documentation on the prolific activity of the multi-faceted Asturian artist are to be seen at Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial de Gijón until November 15
Photo: LABoral/S. Redruello
Nel Amaro (Cantuserrón, Mieres, 1946-Oviedo, 2011) was one of the most heterodox and radical artists of his generation. Performer, poet, novelist, playwright, cultural activist and permanent member of the Academy of the Asturian Language, he was a pioneer in vindicating the Asturian Language and played a major role in the Surdimientu. His prolific production includes action art, publications or visual poetry works influenced by poets like Joan Brossa. Acción Poética presents at LABoral documents and works corresponding to his multiple facets as creator, and pays tribute to the life and artistic career of the prolific Asturian creator.
Included in the framework of Jornadas de Diseño Motiva 2015, Acción Poética will be showcased at Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial de Gijón until November 15. The exhibition presents some materials that could be roughly divided into work and documentation; i.e., original and reproducible, this division being always vague and revocable due to the nature of the work developed by Nel Amaro in his multi-faceted career. Thus, together with a series of objects used in his performances, such as a helmet or a ball in the shape of a globe, there are several series of graphic work similar to comic or, also more pictorial pieces that, even if they have a frame and hang on the wall, look like sculptures or installations.
Everything in Nel Amaro's work returns once and again under a different shape. Topics repeat obsessively, as well as the formats and supports used that are continually re-used in a curious economy of resources. Photocopies, in this sense, is one of his favourite tools: He uses it for his mail-art works, and also to make interventions in the press by cutting, glueing and including overlaying drawings or materials, like some sort of irruption into actuality by means of photo-montage.
In addition to several video actions and performances, Acción Poética presents as well several publications where Nel Amaro took part: From storybooks or poetry in Asturian written from the late 1970's, to fanzines published in the Caudal River Valley in the 1980's. Text and words, preferably in Asturian, is vindicated as well as another resource that is essential to explain his subsequent shift towards live arts.
Nel Amaro. Acción Poética
Dates: 15 April 2015 – 15. November 2015
Production: LABoral
Curator: Alfredo Aracil
In partnership with: Motiva
Acknowledgements: Marta Baquero Velasco and Ana González Campo
More information:
http://www.laboralcentrodearte.org/en/exposiciones/accion-poetica?set_language=en
