LIGHT ANIMATES ALBANO AFONSO'S FOREST IN MALLORCA
In his exhibition in Pollença, the Brazilian artist proposes an immersive experience that moves beyond contemplation, inviting viewers to reflect on nature as an ongoing process of which human beings form an integral part.
A Natureza is the exhibition devoted to Albano Afonso (São Paulo, Brazil, 1964) at the Museu de Pollença, presented in the church of the Convent de Sant Domingo. The exhibition transforms this historic site into an immersive environment inspired by the sensorial qualities of the forest, inviting visitors to experience nature through embodied perception. Drawing upon the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing", the project reflects on the relationship between human beings and the natural world, conceiving it as a space of presence, contemplation, and rediscovery.
The mobile installation Em Estado de Suspensão (2016/2026) serves as the conceptual and spatial centerpiece of the exhibition. Constructed from bronze and crystal elements, the work comes alive through the movement of air and the presence of visitors, behaving almost as a living organism. It also establishes a dialogue with the blown-glass pieces produced by Gordiola, Mallorca's historic glassmaking workshop, forging a connection between centuries-old craftsmanship and contemporary artistic practice.
The interaction between crystal, glass, and light generates a shifting landscape of reflections and shadows that transforms the church interior into an ever-changing environment. This approach is emblematic of Afonso's more than three-decade-long practice, in which light has become a fundamental artistic medium rather than a mere technical device. His sculptures and installations achieve their full expressive potential only through illumination, which activates the works and turns them into spatial experiences in constant transformation.
Albano Afonso: A Natureza remains on view until 25 October 2026 at the Convent de Sant Domingo – Museu de Pollença, Pollença, Mallorca, Spain.
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