VITORIA, SPAIN.- Artium presents Intra-senses. Other looks at the Collection, until January 16, 2005. Curator: Permanent Collection Department ARTIUM. The exhibition INTRA-SENSES. Other looks at the collection, consists of the articulation, through a number of different works from the collections of ARTIUM, of a discourse based on the emotions provoked by the senses. INTRA-SENSES immerses us in other looks that also enrich the work of art, contaminate it with intimate and personal impressions, of the unclassifiable confusion that we always relate to shocks to the senses, to aesthetic pleasure, or even to reflections provoked by the unknown side of our brain. This exhibition sets out to provide an approximation to the contemporary interpretation of the concept of beauty in which the beautiful here is the submerged, the intimate experience, to paraphrase Georges Bataille.

This exhibition contains a series of works grouped in five blocks, due either to the close relationship that exists between some of them, to their emotional energy and even to their literalness, can provoke intimate worries or reflections that direct us towards the self-look, to the contemplation of details, to an intense abstraction.

The exhibition begins or ends (depending on how the spectator enters the gallery), with a spectacular set of four installations that represent the four elements on which the pillars of classical philosophy were based. Water, with the piece by Jose Luis Vicario entitled Vapor de amor (Tormenta), done in 1998. Fire , with the work by Eugenio Ampudia entitled Fuego frío I, of 2003. Air with Sin Título. Vídeo viento 1,2,3, of 2003, by Monserrat Soto and Earth which is represented by the work by Francisco Ruiz de Infante (Yo soy un buen chico) conceived in 1992. An examination of these four pieces intends to provoke isolated sensations of great power that predispose or create an awareness among spectators of the rest of the works which they will find, should they have entered the gallery via the south wing, or shake them out of their reverie, should they have begun their visit via the north wing.

The two large remaining galleries contain five blocks pervaded by the idea of emotional or detached contemplation: The passing of time, as a main, very personal notion, as an ever-present vanitas, with works, among others, by Jacinto Martín and Daniel Canogar, the look, which attempts to go beyond the face to invade the depth of the eyes, including works by the artists Pierre Gonnord, Carmela García and Guido Anderloni. The infinite moment, which speaks to us of the detail lost and found, the eternal instant, of atemporality, with works by Gabriel Díaz, Adolfo Schlosser and Tom Carr. The calm of colour, with the passionate involvement of chromatics, so close to abstract memory, with Rafael Lafuente, Equipo 57 and Mitsuo Miura. Lastly, landscape that appears like a visit to the exterior, as a reference to specific memory, to suggestion with works by Amable Arias, Soledad Sevilla and Iñaki Cerrajería.

Looking, contemplating, enjoying is the only equipment necessary and essential to make an unexpected journey towards our inner being. The works of INTRA-SENSES. Other looks at the collection will provide the rest.