Alain Urrutia Contemporary Ink Drawings Exhibition at Michel Mejuto Gallery

This exhibition presents the series 'Tercer tiempo' (Third Half) by Alain Urrutia, featuring ink drawings on paper inspired by the physical formations of rugby scrums. The works continue the artist's exploration of the aesthetics of violence within sporting contexts, viewing rugby as a structured, legitimate encounter.

The series 'Tercer tiempo' (Third Half) features medium and large-scale ink drawings on paper derived from photographic material related to rugby. By focusing on the 'scrum'—a pivotal, head-to-head formation in the sport—Urrutia examines the tension and structural nature of the game. The artist draws from an old English adage describing rugby as a 'sport for thugs played by gentlemen' to explore the paradoxes of human interaction and physical struggle. This body of work follows Urrutia's earlier interest in the 'aesthetics of playful violence,' previously explored through the sport of boxing, where he sought to identify a legitimate form of violence that is not driven by hatred or destructive impulses. The exhibition is part of the 'Abierto por vacaciones' (Open for Holidays) program at Michel Mejuto Gallery, organized in collaboration with BilbaoArte. This initiative provides a platform for young artists who have received annual fellowships at BilbaoArte to showcase their work in the gallery's front space. While the gallery typically focuses on 19th and 20th-century artists, this summer collaboration aims to support emerging creators who are beginning their professional careers and developing the art of the future.

The exhibition was open to the public during the last two weeks of July 2008, and remained on display via the gallery window throughout the month of August 2008. No specific ticket purchase was required for this viewing context as it was part of the gallery's open summer program.