Teruel Art: Women & Memory in ‘Dum Spiro, Spero’ Exhibition
The intersection of memory, identity, and the role of women in shaping collective narratives is at the heart of a new art exhibition cycle. Dum Spiro, Spero, the first of four exhibitions in the “Especies de Espacios” art cycle, opened this Monday at ArTEsala in Teruel, Spain. The exhibition features work from Adriana Angulo Gracia, Iciar García Legaristi, Claudia Casino, DAFF, Bri Ascarrunz, and Luis Arturo Giménez Alamán, and will be on display until February 6th.
Exploring Personal and Collective Memory
The projects within Dum Spiro, Spero are designed to reflect the inner worlds of the student artists. Adriana Angulo’s installation, Levonorgestrel, uses sculpture, photography, and conceptual art to address sexual abuse, the pornography industry, and the objectification of women. The work features a mosaic of female bodies, inviting viewers to interact with miniature cars, alongside displays of emergency contraception pills and resources for survivors.
Honoring Women’s Lives and Labor
Iciar García Legaristi’s Lugar o Sitio pays tribute to five women who have significantly impacted her life. The installation features personal objects representing these women, accompanied by photographs and recorded interviews accessible via QR code. The work is rooted in the artist’s and her subjects’ shared connection to Villanueva de Gállego.
Claudia Casino’s Recuerda(ME) also honours women, focusing on the often-unrecognized labor of those who worked in the sewing industry. The installation combines an antique rocking chair with an audiovisual component, acknowledging the sacrifices made by women like the artist’s grandmother.
Intimate Reflections and Lost Connections
DAFF’s Proyecto Ratón is a deeply personal exploration of grief following the loss of the artist’s mother. Small mouse sculptures and photographs are being distributed throughout Teruel, symbolizing a desire to keep the mother’s memory alive. According to the artist, anyone who finds and keeps a mouse will be “guarding the existence and memory of the mother.”
Bri Ascarrunz’s Pachamama honours the artist’s Bolivian immigrant mother, who raised four children alone. The piece features a traditional Bolivian textile suspended in the air, representing the mother’s strength and resilience. The textile is designed to unravel over time, symbolizing the transition from existence to transcendence.
Remembering Traditional Crafts
Luis Arturo Giménez Alamán’s Dejar huella reflects on the legacy of ceramic artisans in Gea de Albarracín. The work features a canvas with ash from local trees layered over fragments of ceramic decorated with the fingerprints of past craftspeople, preserving their lasting mark.
Looking Ahead
The “Especies de Espacios” cycle will continue with three more exhibitions opening on February 9th, 17th, and 23rd. These exhibitions, like Dum Spiro, Spero, are the result of work by students in the “Metodología de Proyecto: Espacio” course, taught by Silvia Martí Marí.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of the Dum Spiro, Spero exhibition?
The exhibition explores the relationship between memory, identity, and the significant role women play in constructing collective memory.
Who are the artists featured in Dum Spiro, Spero?
The exhibition features work by Adriana Angulo Gracia, Iciar García Legaristi, Claudia Casino, DAFF, Bri Ascarrunz, and Luis Arturo Giménez Alamán.
Where and when can the public view the exhibition?
Dum Spiro, Spero is on display at ArTEsala in Teruel, Spain, until February 6th, 2026.
How might these artistic explorations of memory and identity resonate with viewers and encourage them to reflect on their own personal histories?