20 October, 2016 – 29 January, 2017 First Floor
"We like to call ourselves "rational animals" but, personally, I'm convinced that we are very frequently led by our emotions.
Although our psyche is mainly controlled by the brain, the Enteric Nervous System (or "second brain," in charge of controlling the gastrointestinal system) has a great influence on emotional states and non-rational nervous processes. Intestine and mind have in common the existence of neurones and the production of the same type of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine.
If we also add the very important role played by microbiota (bacteria inside our intestine), and taking into account recent medical studies, there seems to be more and more evidence that points to the interaction between the brain and the intestine, and to the theory about the close relationship between certain behaviour disorders, anxiety and depression, and imbalances or dysfunctions in the aforementioned Enteric Nervous System.
Since this system processes, stores, "digests" memories, feelings and emotions without the mediation of reason, this is the concept from which I started in order to prepare the artworks for this installation. Fear, blame, hope, sensuality, anger, anhedonia… materialise in a series of imaginary forms.
I feel, therefore I am."
Montse Rego
Montse Rego
I met Montse Rego shortly after moving to Santiago in 1995 to open, in the Pazo de Bendaña building, the Eugenio Granell Foundation. We started out with just the first floor and gradually grew until we occupied the entire building. I have likewise seen Montse grow as a woman, mother and artist. The first of Montse's creations that I saw were some jewels, necklaces, made of nylon cable and stainless steel. With the passing of time, and in different exhibitions, I saw how she developed her artistic talent. Montse is a confident woman that does not compromise her ideas. She still makes jewels, but they are completely different from those first ones. She now uses threads and fabrics. Her creations also include chairs, two of which can be seen in the Foundation, currrently in the Room Amparo. I obviously believe in Montse.
I have wanted Montse to exhibit in the Granell Foundation for years. In 2006 the Foundation started the series called Surrealist Poetical Youths and In Situ, curated by Montse Cea, with the objective of exhibiting work by young artists in some of the Museum's spaces. I have finally managed to convince Montse Rego to do an exhibition with us. During a meeting we had, she asked if she could work her creations in the Foundation building. I immediately offered her the space that used to be my office. And she has worked there for several months. This led to the idea of this becoming an annual event, and we have called it "Artist in Residence". I am grateful that Montse was the first one and that her initiative led to the "Artist in Residence" idea. Next year, Mauro Trastoy, another young artist that used to be my neighbour on Rúa Calderería, will be the next "Artist in Residence".
Surrealists believed in the coincidences of life, in chance. It is interesting that this exhibition "Fisionomía da sinrazón" (Appearance of Irrationality) has a lot to do with the psyche, which, as Montse writes, "is controlled by the brain." André Breton, the "father" of surrealism, studied medicine. During the years of the First World War, he worked in the Saint-Dizier psychiatric centre, with soldiers who were taken from the front due to mental stress. This exhibition undoubtedly belongs in this museum.
Natalia Fernández Segarra
Director and Curator of the exhibition
LOOK: http://arteaunclick.es/2016/11/10/montse-rego-fisonomia-de-la-sinrazon/