LOOKING TOWARDS SYMBOLISM
Being a spectator... it is not so much the looking as it is the being looked at, in other words, the pursuit of both the aesthetic experience and the shift of the object into the scope of the meaningful. This is what is essentially conveyed through the work of Santiago López; Ávila-born, sharp, conservative with the cold, masterful in forging and sensitive man in the broadest sense of the term.
His work plays this deliberate game of manipulating the artistic object and its symbolic complicity with the observer.
Bronze, iron, stone, elements that can be given a different shape through manipulation. In spatial searches of the environment, of weightless occupation, of the comfort of light metal bodies rising in the urban space, building new geographies in the public and private framework, elements that are arranged according to the spectator and in turn consumed by him.
Dignified sculpture in the literal sense, symbolic objects, abstractions, personalisation of the essential, structuralisation of the idea and the process. In every sense, sculpture!! Joaquín Rodríguez
To the naked eye, a lot of small-scale sculptures may seem like an exploration of constructivism, abstract cubism, movement, monumentality (Estudio de un ajimez [Study of mullioned window], Estudio arquitectónico [Architectural study], Homenaje a Malevich [Homage to Malevich]). However, his pieces conceal a lot more. An admirable control of the broadest range of materials (bronze, stainless steel, aluminium, steel, resins...) and a hidden message –sometimes a clear and inspired nod to avant-garde greats like Oteiza– emerge from complex and calculated compositions. Whilst always within the scope of abstraction that toys with verticality, horizontality, curves and straight lines, cubes and concepts, which at times, like in Navío, seem to play with the observer to provoke an interpretation of a boat, an oar, wading through an imaginary sea. This is achieved thanks to the combination of vacuum and matter (title of one of the exhibitions in his impressive track record), technical expertise and formal experimentation over the course of many years.
2013. Vacío [Vacuum]. Escuela de Arte, Ávila.
2011. Materia y Vacío [Matter and Vacuum]. Capa Esculturas. Brussels.
2010. Santiago López-New work. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
Galería Artes. Ávila.
2008. Galería Artes, Ávila.
2007. New Work. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
1999. Toros en los Deanes [Bulls in the Deanes]. Ávila.
1988. Drawings and sculptures. Palace of los Bracamonte. Ávila.
Photography, Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Ávila [School of Arts and Artistic Trade of Ávila].
2012. LXI Exposición Nacional de Otoño [National Autumn Exhibition]. Seville.
Galeria Geraldes da Silva. Oporto, Portugal.
2011. 72 International Visual Arts Exhibition, Valdepeñas.
Victorio Macho Award, Palencia.
2010. 71 International Visual Arts Exhibition, Valdepeñas.
Galería Artes. Ávila.
2009. Invierno 09 [Winter '08]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid. Galería Artes. Ávila.
2008. Invierno 08 [Winter '08]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
XXVIII Painting and Sculpture Competition, Villa de Parla.
AAF Spring Edition. London, UK.
2006. Escuela de Arte, Ávila.
XXVI Painting and Sculpture Competition, Villa de Parla.
2005. Inclusion in Capa Esculturas. Brussels, Belgium
VI Mateo Hernández Sculpture Biennial Exhibition.
Index Dubai. United Arab Emirates. Capa Esculturas.
2004. Inclusion in Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
Estampa [Print]. Salón Internacional del Grabado y la Edición de Arte Contemporáneo [International Printmaking and Contemporary Art Fair]. Capa Esculturas. Madrid.
International Basketball Biennial. Alcobendas. Madrid
2003. XXIII Painting and Sculpture Competition, Villa de Parla. Madrid.
Exhibition V Sculpture Competition, Leganés. Madrid.
2002. Acuarium Finisterrae. A Coruña.
VI José Cubero Painting and Sculpture Competition, Colmenar Viejo. Madrid.
XXII Painting and Sculpture Competition, Villa de Parla. Madrid.
2001. II Sculpture Competition, Ávila.
2000. I Sculpture Competition, Ávila.
1988. Victorio Macho Award, Palencia.
1987. Collective Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos de Ávila [School of Applied Arts and Artistic Trade of Ávila].
City Council of Ávila.
Alberto Pindado Memorial Trophy.
Ávila Centro Award.
Spanish Archery Championship, Ávila.
Cine en Formato Joven [Youth Cinema] Award. Ávila.
Sculpture of the Ferrovial Innovation Awards.
Sculpture of the Ávila Centro Award.
Sculpture of Alberto Pindado Memorial Trophy. Ávila.
Sculpture of Spanish Archery Championship Trophy, Ávila.
Sculpture of Cine en Formato Joven Award. Ávila.
2012. First Runner-up XXXII Villa de Parla Painting and Sculpture Competition. Madrid.
2010. Shortlisted for 71 International Visual Arts Exhibition, Valdepeñas.
2009. Finalist in Fundación Villalar Visual Arts Competition.
2008. Third Prize at ArteÁvila.
2007. First Prize in National Sculpture Awards, Ávila.
Shortlisted for Sculpture Competition in Pinto. Madrid.
2005. Shortlisted for XI Ángel Orensanz International Sculpture Award. Sabiñánigo. Huesca.
Runner-up XXV Painting and Sculpture Competition, Villa de Parla. Madrid.
Shortlisted for Victorio Macho Award. Palencia.
Shortlisted for VI Mateo Hernández Sculpture Biennial. Béjar.
2004. Shortlisted for Victorio Macho Sculpture Award, Palencia.
Second Prize San Isidro National Non-Ceramic Craft Competition.
Shortlisted for IV International Biennial of Basketball in Fine Arts.
2003. Shortlisted for V Sculpture Competition, Leganés.
Mention from the Jury XXIII Painting and Sculpture Competition, Villa de Parla.
First prize Craft Competition, Provincial Government of Ávila.
Shortlisted for Victorio Macho Sculpture Award, Palencia.
Shortlisted for I Sculpture Competition, Chamber of Commerce, Ávila.
2002. Shortlisted for XXII Painting and Sculpture Competition, Villa de Parla.
Shortlisted for VI José Cubero Yiyo Painting and Sculpture Competition, Colmenar Viejo.
Shortlisted for Salvatierra - Vitoria Sculpture Award, Caja Vital Kutxa.
Shortlisted for Oion-Vitoria Sculpture Award, Caja Vital Kutxa.
Second prize Craft Competition, Provincial Government of Ávila.
Shortlisted for Caballitos de Mar Competition, Acuarium Finisterrae, A Coruña.
2001. First Prize II Sculpture Competition of Ávila, City Council of Ávila.
First and third prize Craft Competition. Provincial Government of Ávila.
1998. Shortlisted for Victorio Macho Sculpture Award. Palencia.
Graduated in Applied Arts and Artistic Trade, Ávila.
2000-2001. Practical course in Stonework. Fundación Cultural Santa Teresa and Centro de los Oficios in León Advanced Diploma in Interior Design.
1998. Teacher on course on Exterior Characteristics of Buildings, Exterior, Interior and Furniture Setting. Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Regional Government of Castile-Leon).
1994-1995. Teacher on course on Casting and Modelling. Escuela Universitaria de Formación del Profesorado [University School for Teacher Training]. Ávila.
Works by Santiago López Fernández
