This was "Live Art in the Plaza 2024"
From July 19 to September 8 in eleven places in the region
In the summer of 2024, the Community of Madrid presented Living art in the square, a program that celebrates and disseminates creative talent through dynamic and participatory artistic actions anchored in the soul of the towns: their squares, spaces known and shared by and for all, and reinventing them through the prism of art.
These spaces, epicenters of community life, became living canvases where art is born and shared without reservation: a total of eleven gatherings where local artists and five contemporary artists brought their creations to life before the public, inviting them to explore them beyond the usual confines of museums, exhibition halls, and galleries.
María Eugenia Diego Salvador, Paula Mira, Verónica Ruth Frías, Chema Perona (ChePe) and Ander Yarza were the artistic team of the scene performative national who shared these public spaces in ninety-minute encounters. This was an opportunity to learn about their work and creations firsthand, converse with them, exchange ideas, and discover new working methods.
Living art in the plaza 2024
Schedule by dates
Participating artists
"EMBROIDERING GREEN" with María Eugenia Diego Salvador
“Embroidery in green” brings to the outside what normally goes unnoticed in the most private spaces, when women gather to embroider around a mensa those tablecloths that will form an essential part of a future trousseau.
Highlighting the richness of community craftsmanship, a tablecloth with an embroidered map of the town was spread out in the squares every evening. The floral motifs typically used in this work are real flowers that can be sewn onto the map-tablecloth, allowing everyone who wanted to join in to make and embroider their own decisions about the greening of their town.
This action became an urban planning exercise with impact, beyond the decorative, while establishing awareness and a closer look at the presence of plants in the area.
Maria Eugenia Diego Salvador (Zamora, 1989) Trained as an architect, she worked as such for 5 years in different studios, as well as for the retail world. In 2018, in search of less aggressive and more creative practices, she came into contact with art, design, botany and crafts. Two years working at the Loewe flower shop (Madrid), made her perceive intelligence beyond the vitiated anthropocentrism and thus she began to conceive her artistic practice observing these links from 2020 onwards.
Winner of the Flora 2022 international installation festival, her work focuses on interspecies relationships and the value they bring to each of the elements involved in the bond itself. The artist works with references to crafts and folklore, as well as other values of popular culture, understood as a starting point and link with the human and the identity of the viewer. Through sculpture, installation and performance, He pauses to observe the complexity of the intricate network of connections, aids, and interdependent connections necessary to form an individual's identity. In Madrid, his work has participated in exhibitions at Twin Gallery, Casa Encendida, and the Flora Festival in several editions.
"WHERE IS MY IDEA" with Paula Mira
"Where is my idea" is a dynamic interactive piece created by Paula Mira, which invites the viewer to immerse themselves in the universe of the creative process.
Through a selection of objects essential for artistic creation, the work unfolds as an intimate exhibition where each element tells its own story of inspiration and creative origin.
Attendees were not only immersed in the artist's vision, but also became active collaborators in the work. By sharing their own sources of inspiration, they contribute to the creation of a "collective inspirational diary," enriching the experience with a diversity of perspectives and approaches. This ongoing dialogue between the artist and the audience reflects the very essence of the creative process, marked by mutual influence and shared inspiration.
Paula Mira (Madrid, 1999) Multidisciplinary artist, whose work covers acting, dance and performances.
She has collaborated as a creator and performer in prominent companies such as 7 Minutos de Gloria, Lamesa Colectif and Al Despósito Physical Theatre, contributing her unique vision and artistic versatility.
His career in the audiovisual field took off with his participation in the series "Las Invisibles", under the direction of Héctor Lozano and Menna Fité, and he continued with his role in the film "A Nuestros Amigos" by Adrián Orr, establishing himself as an emerging figure in the artistic scene.
"ART NOW" with Verónica Ruth Frías
In "ART NOW", the performance Verónica's work is based on a symbolic foundation: a stack of contemporary art books that reflects current trends and debates in art, also alluding to the well-known Taschen series.
Dressed in a striking red dress, representing passion and struggle, Veronica ascends this tower of knowledge. Her balancing act on the books, carefully selected to give the name to the performance, symbolizes the constant search for stability in a field marked by the omission and neglect of women's contributions. With a serious and thoughtful expression, this action performative not only questions the historical narrative of art, but also claims the presence and recognition of women in art and culture, inviting a reconsideration of equity and inclusion in the contemporary artistic field.
Veronica Ruth Frias (Córdoba, 1978) uses disguise, makeup and camouflage to acquire other identities, and to carry out a body of performative work that influences an acidic and frontal critique of gender issues. We have seen her as Little Red Riding Hood, The Daughter of God in the Last Supper, as a Super Heroine, as a kidnapper and, through all these characters and many more, Frías tells us what worries her, what outrages her, and what It makes us question the roles of women in today's society, reaffirming their position in a world of men and, where appropriate, in the world of art. In her works there is always a touch of hooligan and irreverent humor.
Works mainly with the performance and uses video and photography to record the ephemeral actions she undertakes. For several years, she has used tools such as Facebook to propose collective works in which she requests the open and free participation of the public, citizens, and the public. Her works have been seen in solo and group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. Verónica Ruth Frías has worked with curators such as Mariana Hormaechea, Nerea Ubieto, Adonay Bermúdez, Fernando Gómez de la Cuesta, Semiramis Gonzales, Margarita Aizpuru, Javier Díaz Guardiola, Juan Ramón Barbancho, and Ángel Luis Pérez Villén.
"SCRAPS OF IDENTITY" with Chema Perona (ChePe)
Chema Perona, prominent exponent of collage contemporary, brings his art to the villages through these unique artistic actions. In each destination, Perona carried out the creation of a collage Collaborative, with a particular focus on highlighting the richness and diversity of local resources. These works, enriched by the distinctive features of each town, skillfully blend retro-pop styles with advertising influences, resulting in a visual fusion that establishes a dialogue between the indigenous and the global within a surrealist framework.
The project reached its climax with the installation of the works in the eleven plazas where this program took place, establishing a lasting artistic legacy that enhances the identity and cultural heritage of the intervened sites.
Chema Perona (ChePe) (Tomelloso, 1974) is an outstanding visual artist and collagistTrained in graphic design at the Antonio López School of Arts and Crafts, his career took a creative turn after being inspired by Richard Hamilton's work, "What makes today's homes so different, so attractive?" He has lived in Madrid since the age of 23, where he has developed a unique style that blends surrealism, pop art, and geometry, primarily using analog techniques with vintage magazines.
His works, which recontextualize images to give them new meanings, reflect influences ranging from Dadaism to Pop Art, including figures such as Terry Gilliam and Picasso. She has exhibited in galleries such as Casasur Art Lab and Espacio Jorge Juan in Madrid, as well as the Jorge Martínez Gallery in Mexico.
"MY CONCERT" with Ander Yarza
Ander Yarza presents an innovative interactive musical project that transformed village squares into intimate spaces for connecting through the piano. This experience invited passersby to embark on a sonic journey, where the magic of timeless classics intertwines with vibrant original compositions. Using the technique of four-hand improvisation, Ander not only shares his talent but also actively engages the audience, encouraging volunteers to join him in spontaneous musical collaborations.
Interaction with the audience is a fundamental pillar of this performance, as Ander challenges himself and delights the residents by performing any melody after just one listen. The atmosphere is also enriched by the recitation of short texts that complement the listening experience.
Ander Yarza (Madrid, 1987) He is a self-taught pianist and composer who began his musical path at the age of 7. His training was enriched under the guidance of renowned pianists such as Tamara Honstetter, Mariano Díaz and Joshua Edelman. During his university studies in Musical Teaching at the Complutense University, Ander composed music for short films, strengthening his passion for composition.
In 2015, he founded "Soniera Isla", a project where he fuses various musical styles and demonstrates his talent as a keyboardist and composer. The group stood out in the UME band competition, achieving first and second place in different phases. Ander has participated in more than 200 concerts and collaborated with renowned artists, bringing his versatility to both solo and group projects, and contributing to the music scene with his innovative vision.
Organization and contact
Organized by: DG Culture and Creative Industries
Collaboration: The Juan Gallery