Silent Architectures. A Series of Work by Xavier Monclús

Article / Artists Architecture Research XavierMonclus VersiónEnEspañol-SpanishVersion

Published: 24.11.2020

Xavier Monclús

Author:: Xavier Monclús

Edited by:: Klimt02

Edited at:: Barcelona

Edited on:: 2020

Xavier Monclús
Brooch: Son Palmera Vell, 2020
Silver, brass, bronze, wood, cold enamel.
5.2 x 3.8 x 0.9 cm
Photo by: Guillem F-H

Brooch and Object

I’ve always wondered what is real and what is artificial in a work of art. For me what’s real is the primitive reaction of the artist before unavoidable stimuli from the environment and experiences that inspire him. The artificial side then is the work of art itself, a representation created by the artist by activating his imagination and technique and by streaming the energy generated by that previous excitement.

Versión en Español - Spanish version

Siempre me he preguntado que hay de real y artificial en una obra de arte. Para mí lo real es la primitiva reacción del artista a los ineludibles estímulos que su entorno y experiencias le provocan. Lo artificial es la obra misma, una representación que mediante su imaginación y técnica, el artista crea, canalizando la energia generada por aquella excitación previa.

Hace unos años, me trasladé a la mediterránea isla de Menorca, cambiando de entorno y logicamente de estímulos. Mi obra, con un claro carácter narrativo desde sus inicios mutaba a un estilo simple y minimalista así como hacia una búsqueda de la esencia intrínsica de las cosas.

La arquitectura, que ha sido referencia constante en mi obra, se ha manifestado en los ultimos años, absolutamente central. Observo que a través de ella -casas primordialmente- se articula mi propio universo. ¿Qué quiero decir a través de ellas?.... Creo, son el recipiente de nuestras vidas, una permanentemente madriguera protectora, así como reflejo de nuestra personalidad y cultura. La organización y disposición de nuestro nido nos explica como individuos, posibilita nuestra realización como humanos, permitiendo desarrollarnos espiritual e intelectualmente. En definitiva deduzco que las casas, silenciosas, somos nosotros

Mis casas son pequeños artefactos duales con piel menorquina. Duales porque son tanto objeto y joya, sin preocuparme ya, demasiado, lo que son... serán algun dia objetos solamente? Seguramente sí, ¿volverán a ser joyas otra vez? Posiblemente también... lo que son o serán no me importa ahora ni en el futuro, serán lo que necesiten ser y necesite yo como artista.

La generosa geología de Menoca se transforma en interminables paredes de piedra y bloques de marés extraidos de sus milenarias canteras. De la geología pues, a la cultura.

La ancestral sabiduria popular configura la tipologia de las casas mediante volumenes y formas emocionalmente simples, bellas y revestidas de una piel autóctona de cal. Capas de cal, que superpuestas a lo largo de los años, afloran maravillosas texturas, radicalmente blancas, cegadoras bajo el sol del estio.
Mi particular mundo escogido es ahora Menorca. Me emociona, lo quiero, lo represento, pero no fantasticamente, sinó humilde e imaginativamente, tal como soy, tal como és...

/ Xavier Monclús

“I should say: the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace”
Gastón Bachelard, The Poetics of Space

Some years ago, I moved to the Mediterranean island of Menorca. This meant a big change of scenery and obviously of stimuli. My work, which was predominantly narrative from its origin, started to shift to a more simple and minimalist style in search of the intrinsic essence of things.
Architecture has always been a constant reference and source of inspiration in my artistic endeavors and with time it has become central. My own universe gets articulated through architecture -especially through houses. But what do I want to express through them? I think that houses are recipients of our lives. They are the burrows that protect us and at the same time, they express our personality and culture. The organization and arrangement of our nest define us as individuals and allows us to fulfill ourselves as human beings by developing ourselves spiritually as well as intellectually. In short, I conclude that we are those silent houses.

My houses are small-scaled dual artifacts covered by Menorcan skin. Their duality is because they are both object and jewel -I do no longer care too much about what they are. Will they once be only objects? Most probably, yes. And will they be jewels again? This will likely happen. So.. what they are or what they will be is no longer important now or in the future. They will surely be what they need to be and also what I will need as an artist.
The generous geology of the Balearic island of Menorca is shaped by endless stone walls and marés (white Menorcan stone) blocks excavated from its millenary quarries. Thus, from geology to culture.

The ancestral knowledge of people shapes the typology of those houses whose volume and shapes are emotionally simple, beautiful. They are coated with an autochthonous skin of a lime. Layers of lime that after so many years create stunning textures that are radically white and blinding under the Menorcan summer sun. All this moves me and I admire and love it so much. I, therefore, represent all this universe as an artist, but I do represent it without fantasy. I try to do it humbly and creatively; that is the way I am, that is the way it is.

/ Xavier Monclús.

Xavier Monclús
Brooch: Na Macaret, 2019
Silver, cold enamel.
4.5 x 4.8 x 0.9 cm
Photo by: Guillem F-H

Brooch and Object

Xavier Monclús
Brooch: Arquitectura Menorquina IV, 2019
Silver, oxidated silver, bronze, cold enamel.
5 x 4.7 x 1.3 cm
Photo by: Guillem F-H

Brooch and Object

Xavier Monclús
Brooch: Menorcan Shed of Dreams, 2020
Silver, alpaca, wood, cold enamel.
4.8 x 3.9 x 0.9 cm
Photo by: Guillem F-H

Brooch and Object

Xavier Monclús
Brooch: Baixamar I, 2019
Silver, bonze, cold enamel.
5 x 4.8 x 1.2 cm
Photo by: Guillem F-H

Brooch and Object

Xavier Monclús.
Brooch & Object: Party Wall with Cat I & Party Wall Cat II, 2019.
Silver, oxidated silver, cold enamel. 5 x 5 x 1 cm & 4.8 x 4.7 x 0.9 cm
Photo by: Guillem F-H