VIVIAN SUTER: BETWEEN NATURE, PROCESS, AND SPACE

The Madrid branch of Travesía Cuatro is currently hosting Bajo el Mango, a solo exhibition by Vivian Suter (Buenos Aires, 1949) that brings together a selection of her recent work, deeply rooted in the natural environment of Panajachel, on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Working within a setting characterized by tropical vegetation and a distinctive climate, Suter’s practice moves beyond the mere representation of landscape, instead positioning nature as an active agent within her creative process.

Bajo el Mango continues this conceptual approach through an installation in which canvases suspended from the ceiling envelop the entire exhibition space. The arrangement offers viewers an almost immersive experience, in which the individual works acquire their full meaning when considered as part of a larger whole. This dialogue with the environment also re-emerges in the representation of Suter’s working space, which is evoked throughout the exhibition and becomes a symbol of the connection between artistic creation and nature.

It is therefore unsurprising to encounter canvases in the gallery’s courtyard, where the works continue to develop through direct exposure to atmospheric conditions, giving new meaning to their final appearance. The canvases move from the interior to the exterior, coming into contact with the earth or hanging from trees, where they are exposed to rain, mud, wind, and the passage of time, all of which alter their surfaces. Although the relationship between Suter’s artistic practice and nature has long been inherent to her work and career, the exhibition demonstrates how this technical dimension has become an integral part of her creative process.

Vivian Suter: Bajo el Mango is on view until 7 November 2026 at Travesía Cuatro, San Mateo 16, Madrid, Spain.