Atilio Doreste Explores Materiality in New ‘Materia Muda’ Exhibition at Espacio Bronzo

San Cristóbal de La Laguna is once again bridging the gap between academia and contemporary art. Espacio Bronzo, located at 19 Núñez de la Peña Street, will host the exhibition Materia muda (Silent Matter) starting this Friday at 8:00 p.m. The display will remain open to the public until May 8th.

The project is the work of Atilio Doreste, a professor at the University of La Laguna’s Faculty of Fine Arts. His recent work marks a significant shift: after years of experimenting with sound art, he has moved toward physical materiality. In this new collection, Doreste explores synesthesia, translating the acoustic properties and resonance of objects into visual art. Using ceramics and painting, he examines how earth is transformed through heat.

Doreste’s work is inspired by the "third landscape" theory from landscape architect Gilles Clément. He focuses on peripheral, abandoned, or "leftover" spaces, arguing that these areas are far from empty and hold their own sensory significance. This interest in the marginal is reflected in pieces that incorporate organic materials, such as greenhouse roots, which have been repurposed into ceramic objects.

This move from sound to touch reflects a growing trend in Spanish contemporary art, where creators are blurring the lines between different sensory experiences. By turning the logic of listening into an exploration of color and texture, Doreste does more than just display art; he invites us to reflect on the human impact on nature and the way materials can tell their own stories through silence.