Until then, how about getting more acquainted with Angel‘s work? The internationally known French art critic Pierre Restany wrote a beautiful article about the Spanish artist that exposes the ways Angel Orensanzexplores the ideas of movement, presence and absence. The article is available here.
It has been a while since our last edition, in which we talked about the past of Ludlow Street and how this landmark of the Lower East Side transformed itself to became one of the hippest areas in town. We also revealed the past of Aragon, the city where Angel Orensanz and his brother Al Orensanz (who will be publishing a book soon, so keep your eyes open!) were born. Finally, in that issue we told you about the contemporary artists Marilyn Minter and Walter Urbach. Want to remember? Just click here!
This time, we will tell you the story of how objects became artifacts through time, how they change and represent who we are and the time we live in. Also, we will talk about the Black Panther party and their relationship with the Angel Orensanz Foundation, in fact, did you know that Spike Lee, who directed the “Huey P. Newton Story” has a new movie? Yes, Red Hook Summer! Finally, we will tell you where Angel Orensanz has been and what he thinks about the English artist Sir Roland Penrose. One more thing, we interplay the connection between absence and presence. Curious, excited? No worries! Just click hereand have fun!
There has been a lot of talk about Higgs Bosom, the particle that may give others mass. The reason? This particle, that is one of the most important missing pieces of the complicated puzzle that is nature, has, supposedly been finally discovered by the scientists at CERN. And Angel Orensanz wants to be part of the discovery.
After spending time in Barcelona (his exhibition Time, Space and Innovation is still up on University of Barcelona), Angel Orensanz has gone north in Spain to a place where the sun always shines and the waves constantly hit the sand: Costa Brava.
He has been there before, in fact, has been carrying out experiments in Costa Brava for many years. One that many people can still recall vividly was his take on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, when he reconstructed a deep water bed of the gulf.
Angel Orensanz, actually, often makes his takes on the happenings of the world and this time he goes back to this beautiful location to pay his homage to the discover of Higgs Boson, with transparent silk in various colors and geometric shapes. An aesthetic recurring in Angel‘s works.
Today , the Angel Orensanz Foundation will talk about his idealizer Angel, and take you in a journey of the exhibitions the artist did in the country he was born, Spain. The artist moved to NYC in the 80,s. He feel in love with the abandoned synagogue in 172 Norfolk St. , in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and bought it. In 1992 it opened as the Angel Orensanz Foundation, a base for Angel to work and also a center for the arts. But he was never bound to a place; Angel traveled the world with his art and eventually was drawn back to Spain.
In fact, the Spanish sculptor has been exposing in the european country since 67, but that is just a little too long ago, so lets focus on the big installations of the last ten years. In 2006 he did a exhibition in Castile, near Madrid, a two square kilometers depiction of Don Quijote and his fabled horse into the old land of Castile, where Cervantes envisioned him five hundred years ago. The show was made possible with the support of locals, something Angel always try to incorporate in his work.
“After a full year of international abuzz about Cervantes’ Don Quijote; after thousands of shows and lectures, political posturing and cultural ruminations, I thought that it was time to release Don Quijote itself into the very land where his creator placed him.” – Angel Orensanz
Two years after, in 2008, he celebrated one of his favorite forms, the sphere with the implementation of a 15 feet diameter sculpture piece in front of the World Trade Center, in the capital city of Aragon, Zaragoza. The sculpture traveled until its final destination in a parade of civic pride and art celebration and the crowds flanked the center of the city and the avenues en route to the sculpture’s destination.
“It is the most universal concept in human culture, from Parmenides to Einstein. This one in steel is a final version of a transparent one that I built in New York, and rolled down Fifth Avenue, from the Metropolitan Museum to City Hall to mourn the tragic events of September 11. This sphere portrays a new world in constant transition and redefinition of itself,” – Angel Orensanz
From the capital of Aragon, he went to the capital of Spain, Madrid, where he exposed in the Museo del Traje, the exhibition called Paradigmas, invaded the museum’s extensive gardens, with site-specific sculptural installations. The bright and colorful fabrics hang from the trees, are intertwined in the entrance’s rotunda and enmeshed in the fountains, inviting the viewer to observe the constant dialogue that takes place between the artist and nature.
Finally, his most recent work in Spain is still visible in the University of Barcelona, more specifically in the gardens (Angel is fond of nature and the relationships in can create) of its historic building, in Barcelona, where Angel is exposing the exhibit “Time, Space and Innovation” .
Angel Orensanzexhibition “Time, Space and Innovation” continues flawlessly at the University of Barcelona. The entrance hall of the University’s historic building is lavishing with a selection of Angel’ssculptures and reliefs. On the other side of the building, the garden is decorated with textile elements installed into the environment’s natural floral surroundings.
Time, Space, Innovation, Barcelona, Spain
The entrance hall exhibit is being held for one more month exactly and will be taken down on the 27th of July, the garden instillation, however, will be open to the public untill the 14th of September. We can surely argue which location (NYC or Spain) fits his perception of “home” most suitably. Although he has been a native of NYC since the 80’s, Orensanzwas born in Laures, Aragon, Spain and returns to his country of birth frequently.
Sphere of the World, Zaragoza, Spain
The dedication to his relationship with Spain is no secret. Since the 1960’s he has been installing sculptures and inviting the public to explore the art space both physically and emotionally. His instillations are powerful, invoking meaning in politics, religion, and a dichotomy between art and nature. His artistic narratives has magnetically captured the public eye in every country he’s traveled to. They say, “home is where the heart is.” Certainly, somewhere inside of each steel, metal, or copper instilation holds the heart of Angel Orensanz.
Hey Everyone, check out the Angel Orensanz Foundation Newsletter #18. We discuss everything from the hottest artists, the history of the Lower East Side and of course the recent updates of Mr. Angel Orensanz himself!
In this article we time travel to parts of the oldest territories of Aragon, one of the uppermost regions of Spain. We explore the controversies and criticism that artists face while publicizing their work as well as many other intriguing topics!
Discover a world of breathtaking images, far away lands and a glimpse into a past almost forgotten, all you need is to click here!
The Angel Orensanz Foundation 