Espacio Marzana Hosts First Solo Bilbao Exhibition by Art Collective PSJM
Contemporary art enthusiasts visiting the Bilbao Estuary can experience the debut solo exhibition of the artist duo PSJM at Espacio Marzana. Titled Brand Strategies, the multidisciplinary showcase brings together three distinct bodies of work that critically examine the social, political, and symbolic weight of corporate branding in modern society.
Operated by Pablo San José and Cynthia Viera from their base in Berlin, PSJM functions conceptually as a commercial art brand. Their practice investigates the intersection of the art object, consumer communication, and the spectacular mechanics of global capitalism. Previous international projects by the duo have reached institutions such as New York's PS1-MOMA, London's Riflemaker Gallery, and Spain's MUSAC, making this regional presentation a notable addition to the local gallery calendar.
Exploring Corporate Power and Consumer Culture in Bilbao
The Brand Strategies exhibition at Espacio Marzana is divided into three interconnected series, each utilizing commercial aesthetics to highlight the contradictions of contemporary market systems.
- Corporate Armies: Inspired by legislative developments concerning corporate security forces reported by The Guardian, this political-fiction project spans video, sculpture, and large-scale drawing. The centerpiece 3D trailer envisions a dystopian future where corporate marketing and authoritarian power merge. Alongside digital sculptures, heroic drawings blend comic-book aesthetics with romantic mysticism to critique the visual seductions of modern media.
- Proyecto Asia: This series revisits a previously censored public art proposal originally installed in Gijón and subsequently removed following pressure from Adidas. Featuring illuminated light boxes, the work juxtaposes major multinational brands with a sharp critical slogan, questioning the labor conditions behind corporate messaging tied to individual freedom.
- Struggle: Utilizing a clear-line comic style infused with elements of Russian constructivism, these drawings depict an asymmetrical dynamic between individual citizens and monolithic corporate entities through ironic visual narratives.
Visitors looking to explore more contemporary art spaces across the city can easily plan their itinerary using Musemap (musemap.art) to find museums in Bilbao or browse the interactive city map for upcoming cultural highlights.
