Begoña Uriarte

05/01/2015

THE BASQUE HERITAGE

La escultora vasca Begoña Uriarte.

Regarding the sculpture in the 20th century, if a tendency has proved to be convincing and distinctive that has been precisely the contribution of the Basque creators. Begoña Uriarte, born in Arrasate-Mondragón, couldn’t remain detached from this movement. Without having seeked it expressively, the Euskaldún spirit which our great and admired Oteiza defined in his work “Quousque tandem…! Essay of aesthetic interpretation of the Basque soul” in 1963, flows through her veins and in one or the other form it had to see the light. As she herself explains us, there is an aesthetic affinity which is born inside and which makes that some of the works seem to be inspired in whoever, when in reality its about a pure idiosyncratic affinity.

Begoña Uriarte

Being formed in Paris and Carrara, Begoña Uriarte’s work represents an universe of a constant, sometimes subtle and imperceptible aesthetic combat (with the ideas, with the material), alternating the search for spaces, where to repose or enjoy the spirit. Her work centres on space, material and colour, but the challenge is to dominate the elements and transmit through them what the artist sees, without forcing them to give up their own intrinsic power.

Begoña Uriarte

She carries out a revaluation of different waste materials which she gathers up in their original environment, adapting and transforming them and conferring on them a new life. But Uriarte not only changes the purpose of those objects in order to create something new, but to create at the same time spaces which might give refuge to those who contemplate them.

Begoña Uriarte

This interest to demonstrate the interaction nature-society is revealed by those elements which she rescues and in which are tracked the traces of man (wood chips abandoned by the aizkolaris, border stones from the Priorato, fragments of the railway, ceramic construction material found on the beach, tins, metals and iron of all classes) as well as the signs of the elements’ action (oxidation, corrosion, erosion…)

Begoña Uriarte

In her sculptures as well as in the bas-reliefs or in her landscape-plates, the human presence becomes obvious through a language which is as convincing and rich as replete of essential emotion. Exhibitions in Spain, Italy, French, England and South Corea. Her work is in public spaces in Basque Country and Catalonia .