ARCOmadrid 2024

The IEB booth shows Isabel Servera's "Perímetre de seguretat"

The exhibition "Perímetre de seguretat" by Isabel Servera, presented by Pilar Cruz, has won the open call launched by the Institute of Balearic Studies (IEB) to select a curatorial project for its stand at ARCOmadrid 2024, which is held from 6 to March 10 at the Madrid Fair Institution (IFEMA).

Among the 14 projects presented, the exhibition by Isabel Servera and Pilar Cruz has been the best valued by the jury, made up of Carlos Jover, curator; Alexandra Laudo, curator; Bartolomé Marí, curator; Gisel Noé, curator and director of Contemporary Art Mataró; Antonio Ortega, artist and teacher; Ester Prat, teacher and cultural manager, and Karen Müller, head of the visual arts area of the IEB.

The IEB, as a cultural institution, has participated since 2019 with its own stand in the cultural spaces section of ARCOmadrid with the aim of promoting the visibility and internationalization of Balearic artists in strategic events with external projection. The projects that the IEB has presented so far are “The instant before something happens”, with Lara Fluxà, Gabriel Pericàs and Ian Waelder, curated by Allélon; "Replica. Tour de force» by Joan Morey, curated by Jesús Alcaide; «Spleen of Tehran. Càmera lúcida” by Nuria Marqués, curated by Alexandra Laudo, and “Mediterranean Souvenirs: Ofrenes” by Julià Panadès, curated by Àngels Miralda.

“Perímetre de seguretat” is an installation by Isabel Servera, curated by Pilar Cruz, which is based on a visual investigation by the artist on public works and the use of plastic signaling elements to constitute security perimeters. The artist delimits and marks the IEB stand with this type of elements to raise awareness in the viewer about the right to use the space, as a reflection on the privileges of access, traffic and occupation that we have according to the community or group to which we belong, whether by election or designation, whether for economic or geopolitical reasons.

As it is recurring in her artistic practice, the artist uses obsolete artisan techniques, with the low heddle tapestry technique for braiding signaling ribbons. The use of craftsmanship also constitutes a common thread in her work to reflect on the intertwining between the pre-industrial world and that of late capitalism in relation to the notions of work organization and economic exploitation of resources.

Pilar Cruz (Zaragoza, 1972) is a curator and cultural worker specialized in subcultures in Spain in the 1960s. She was selected in the first edition of Komisario Berriak and her interest in hybrid work formats has led her to co-direct projects such as "Liminal GR" or "Degénero editions." She has been part of the curatorial team at La Capilla and is currently part of the Graf.cat team. She is an advisor to the ICUB Temporales program and develops several projects independently.

Isabel Servera (Mallorca, 1986) is a visual artist who lives and works in Barcelona. She has an extensive artistic career, in which she has exhibited in different national and international museums and galleries. Recently, she has been awarded the II Barbara H. Weil Prize, thanks to which she did an artistic residency in New York. Her work is present in collections such as the Palma City Council, the Vila Casas Foundation, the Banco Sabadell Foundation and the DKV Collection.