alvaro urbano reflects on the past and future of abandoned architectural structures

la casa encendida of montemadrid foundation presents the awakening, the first solo show in spain by artist alvaro urbano. set within the forgotten hexágonos pavilion located in la casa de campo in madrid, the immersive, site-specific installation reflects on the past and the possible future of abandoned architectural structures.

image © artuso laso

considered a point of reference in spanish architecture and designed by ramón vázquez molezún and josé antonio corrales gutiérrez, the hexágonos pavilion becomes alvaro urbano’s case study in the awakening. the avant-garde construction — made of a prefabricated structure that can be enlarged or reduced depending on the topography — won awards and was used for different events until abandoned and deteriorated to the point of turning into ruins. today, it is still abandoned despite several restoration announcements.

image © trevor lloyd 

alvaro urbano’s the awakening creates a parallel life inside the exhausted building in order to revive its apparently dormant stories. inside, both the architecture and vegetation seem to be paused, encapsulation a pictorial and sonorous landscape that reveals the stories lived within its walls. through a light and sound intervention, the artist invites visitors to plunge into the artwork, giving life back to a building that seemed to be expired.

image © trevor lloyd

image © artuso laso

image © trevor lloyd

image © trevor lloyd

image © trevor lloyd

image © artuso laso

image © artuso laso

image © trevor lloyd

image © trevor lloyd

image © trevor lloyd

image © trevor lloyd

exhibition info:

name: the awakening

artist: alvaro urbano

location: la casa encendida, madrid
date: february 28th – april 19 th, 2020
tuesdays to sundays, 10.00 to 21.45 h
free entry until reaching full capacity