A century of avant-garde: 100 yeas of Tàpies and Chillida

They blazed new trails of artistic expression and have inspired generations of artists. To mark the 100th anniversary of both their births, we would like to pay tribute to Antoni Tàpies and Eduardo Chillida, two artists who are also part of ARTIKA history.

Chillida, poetry forged in steel

Eduardo Chillida (1924 - 2002) would have turned 100 years old on 10 January. His sculptures can be seen in outdoor venues in San Sebastián (El peine del viento), Gijón (Elogio del horizonte) and Barcelona (Elogio del agua), as well as in other locations from New York to Toyama. 

Alongside his artistic output, Chillida also wanted to put down his thoughts on art and life on paper. These reflections are compiled in full in Sobre lo que no sé, an art book that also includes a careful selection of drawings and collages from the artist's archives. The volume includes the writings together with 60 high-quality prints, a study book and an exhibition case.

The ARTIKA catalogue features San Juan de la Cruz, another exclusive book in which Chillida pays tribute to the verses of this 16th century mystic poet. This edition showcases 32 drawings inspired by the work of San Juan de la Cruz, together with 16 handwritten quotes by the sculptor.

The book is completed with a spectacular iron-plate binding, a material that best represents the Basque sculptor. Each cover has been oxidised and polished by hand to ensure that each copy is unique.

Both editions, now out of print, were produced in collaboration with the Chillida Leku Foundation-Museum.

Tàpies, a ground-breaking approach

Antoni Tàpies (1923 - 2012) was born 100 years ago on 13 December. He is known for his commitment to social issues and for his innovative spirit: “I cannot conceive of the artist unless he is engaged in an adventure, in a trance, or leaping into the void”.

He moved away from his early surrealist leanings in the early 1950s to explore all the possibilities of abstraction. In 1953 he was awarded a prize at the São Paulo Biennial and exhibited at the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York.

Tàpies experimented with a variety of materials and textures and was able to turn everyday objects into universal symbols. The Sèrie negre, a fifteen-drawing series produced in 1967, represents a perfect synthesis of his work through drawings of letters and signs, dialogues between light and shadow and abstract resources.

For the first time in 50 years, this ARTIKA edition includes all the original prints, just as they were originally designed. The drawings were produced exclusively by hand on heavyweight paper. The edition is completed with a study book and a case that reproduces the unmistakable style of Antoni Tàpies.

Un año de homenajes

A year of tributes

Running through December 2024, the Fundació Antoni Tàpies has organised a year dedicated to celebrating the artist’s life through a series of exhibitions and activities

For its part, the Fundación Eduardo Chillida - Pilar Belzunce is planning a special year to explore in depth the values that characterise the work of the Basque sculptor, with events that will run until 2025.

Both initiatives have an international scope.