VANITAS, documental 2024.
Originally uploaded in instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9kp3t...
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This brief documentary depicts the creation and installation of the artwork “Vanitas" by the artist Octavi Arrizabalaga (ARYZ). The piece was created specifically for the National Pantheon of Lisbon (Portugal), where it was installed from March to June 2024.

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VANITAS - Octavi Arrizabalaga (ARYZ), Artist.

Exploring the Symbolism of Vanitas
A reflection on the National Pantheon

In the realm of art history, the Vanitas tradition has long captivated scholars and enthusiasts alike with its profound symbolism and allegorical depth. Originating in the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries, Vanitas paintings serve as poignant reminders of the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The essence of the vanities lies in the depiction of mundane objects (books, wilted flowers, extinguished candles, and decaying fruit) juxtaposed with symbols of mortality such as skulls and hourglasses. Through this visual language, the artist sought to convey the fleeting nature of earthly existence and the futility of the pursuit of tangible or material goods. However, in the midst of this reflection on mortality, an evaluation go the essence of life itself emerges.

Aryz reclaims the tradition of the Vanitas and invites the viewer to contemplate how it interacts with the very symbolism of the National Pantheon, opening intriguing parallels. Just as the Vanitas invites us to confront the transience of human existence, the National Pantheon serves as a repository of collective memory and identity, a testament to the enduring legacy of nation’s heroes and luminaries.

In many ways, the still-life compositions of the Vanitas can be seen as allegorical representations of the passage of time within the larger narrative of a nation’s history. Both the work and its setting thus invite us to contemplate the cyclical nature of life and death. The diptych urges us to reflect on our mortality as individuals, the Pantheon invites us to consider the enduring legacy of those who have shaped a collective destiny.

This dialogue serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of life and death, of the ephemeral and the eternal. The fleeting beauty of a moment versus the indelible imprint of history. Thus, as we contemplate the symbolism of the works in the Pantheon’s context, we are reminded not only of the ephemerality of life, but also of the enduring power of memory and legacy, a testament to the timeless resonance of art and history in shaping the world.

In terms of the installations themselves, the change in scale of this tradition, which used to be represented in smaller formats, now seeks to appeal directly to the public through its imposing dimensions. Both installations collect and display typical Vanitas objects such as skulls, books, candles, and flowers. However, Aryz introduces contemporary elements into the representation. The chromatic gammas are varied and contrast vividly with the predominant tones of the Pantheon’s interior, with are mostly composed in stone, white, and black tones. This aspect also represents a break with the tradition, with tended to favor the use of dark, realistic tones. Similarly, the choice of chromatic palettes highlights the contrast with the surroundings , while the cut-out contours of the upper parts help to integrate the pieces into the space that houses them.

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CREDITS

Video by This is Cactus: https://www.thisiscactus.com


Special thanks:

Panteão Nacional
Underdogs Gallery
Camara Municipal de Lisboa
Galeria de Arte Urbana
AnguLuz
Pasqualin Estructures
Stagetec


ARYZ:
Instagram: / mr_aryz
Website: https://www.aryz.es

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TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Title: Vanitas
Technique: Acrylic Paint on panel
Size: Diptych 8 m x 4,5 m / 16,25 ft x 14,76 ft
Year: 2024


INTERVIEWS:

Santiago Macias. Director do Panteão Nacional de Lisboa
Octavi Arrizabalaga - Aryz. Artist

LOCATION:

Panteão Nacional de Lisboa, Portugal 2024