Ana Román Presents Solid Light at Espacio Marzana in Bilbao
Contemporary art enthusiasts visiting Bilbao can experience a focused selection of recent works at Espacio Marzana, where artist Ana Román presents her exhibition Solid Light. Located beside the Bilbao Estuary at Muelle Marzana 5, the gallery hosts this presentation of approximately 15 selected works, comprising ten light boxes and five drawings.
Exploring Solid Light and the Mechanized Aesthetic
Developed over a two-year period, the project builds upon Román’s previous investigations into machine culture, irony, and domestic environments seen in past presentations. While retaining the structural characteristics of traditional painting—such as format, scale, and presentation modes—the works in this exhibition introduce electricity as a primary medium. Color is no longer merely applied to a surface; instead, light emanates directly through the powered structures, bringing the image to life with the flick of a switch.
The exhibition's title points toward the origins of the project, examining the interplay between light, security, and our relationship with automated systems and human-machine spaces. Visitors will encounter pieces bearing titles such as Domestic Template, I am a machine, Looking at the Sky, Tximist, Lamps, Pump, and Listen to me. The underlying visual and conceptual framework draws subtle references from varied figures and movements, including Francis Picabia, Marcel Duchamp, Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion concepts, Black Mountain College, the science fiction writings of Ray Bradbury, and the sonic experiments of John Cage.
Visiting the Exhibition in Bilbao
Born in Bilbao in 1962 and educated at the University of the Basque Country alongside studies in Kassel, Román brings a deep local and international artistic background to this presentation, which was realized with production support from the Department of Culture of the Basque Government.
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