Exhibitions
Qui té el poder?
Exhibition by Paula Artés, curated by Mercè Alsina
BARCELONA
Arxiu d’Etnografia i Folklore de Catalunya (AEFC)
Instal·lació a la galeria elevada que connecta l’Arxiu amb la Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya
Panoràmic FILE
Installation in the elevated gallery that connects the Archive with the National Library of Catalonia
Intervention visible from the outside. Carrer de les Egipcíaques
From October 24, during the course of the 2025
Schedule
Visible 24 hours a day
The power of images shapes history. Are we aware of their influence? And of the importance of analyzing them?
Paula Artés explores these questions through her work with the Arxiu d’Etnografia i Folklore de Catalunya. Her research examines how these images are tied to specific intentions and iconographies.
Artés reflects on the ostentatious display of power through visual means. The three images she presents transport us to different spheres of power and decision-making in society. The church, as one of the oldest institutions, marks the beginning of power and ostentation within our capitalist system. Group photographs from these spheres, including those of governments, generate connotations and an imaginary where power is both implicit and explicit.
Artés’ choice to make these images impersonal was fundamental. By presenting them as faceless groups, she highlights that the power depicted is not dependent on any single individual but rather on the institution itself. In her view, it is irrelevant who is behind the anonymous black stripes; the mechanisms of power would continue to operate regardless of the faces involved.
Paula Artés
Paula Artés (Molins de Rei/Alentorn, 1996). She is an artist and photographer committed to unveiling and questioning the hidden spaces of power, and therefore of control. Starting from a previous essential research, she unveils these spaces. Graduated in photography and contemporary creation.
This 2024 has exhibited at the gallery Àngels Barcelona within the Art Nou program, and has also had a solo exhibition at the Art Center Lo Pati in Amposta. And he has entered with “Firma,” in the group exhibition “Antibiografia” curated by Alexandra Laudo. She also exhibits a new project at the Grau-Garriga Center in the group exhibition awarded in the call for curatorship. And in February 2025 participates in a group exhibition at the Santa Mònica in Barcelona.
With work in the collection of the National Photography Plan of the Generalitat and several exhibitions at the Mapfre of Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Morera Museum and IEI of Lleida, BIAM, Unseen Amsterdam, Temporary ICUB, Kursala and SCAN.
She has published the photobook Fuerzas y cuerpos with a crowdfunding campaign and has been selected for PhotoEspaña, Sala d’Art Jove and nominated for MAST Fundation in Bologna Italy, Plan(t)form FotoMuseum Winterthur and has obtained the OSIC grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya.
She has also curated an exhibition at the Museum of Music and the Toni Catany Foundation.
She has also been in residence at the HISK in Belgium and at Baladre de Lo Pati.
Mercè Alsina
Mercè Alsina (Barcelona, 1966) holds a PhD cum laude in History and Theory of the Arts from the UB (2018). Art critic and independent curator.
Assessor and curator of the Panoràmic Festival.Co-curated the contemporary art cycle santcorneliarts(2) in Cardedeu, recognized with the ACCA award for the best contemporary art programming in Catalonia 2023.
She was artistic director of the self-managed space ARTUAL and Galeria 44.She curated the Escaparate space at the Abelló Museum in Mollet.
