A Painting by Vicente Rodes and a Handmade Book by Pilar Sala Join the 'Legacies' Exhibition at MUBAG

The Museum of Fine Arts of Alicante (MUBAG) has enriched its temporary exhibition 'Legacies. The New Collections of MUBAG (2020-2024)' with two new works: the painting 'Untitled' by Vicente Rodes and the handmade book 'Magical Yucca' by Pilar Sala Vallejo. These recently donated pieces are displayed in a dedicated space in the documentary area of the exhibition, accompanied by a biographical strip and a brief overview of the artists' lives and works.

The large-format painting created in 1988 by Vicente Rodes, who passed away two years ago, has been donated by Carmen Fernández, his wife. This donation increases the existing collection of this artist at the museum. In this oil on canvas, silhouettes dissolve into geometrization with an effusive combination of shapes and colors, prominently featuring whites, ochres, and greens.

Meanwhile, artist Pilar Sala has contributed to MUBAG with the piece 'Magical Yucca', an original handmade book crafted from vegetal textures achieved through yucca leaf fibers. Sala, born in Lorca, has always been immersed in handmade paper production, experimenting with plants to achieve ideal textures for creating evocative compositions.

Following their donation, both works were transferred to the restoration laboratory. A superficial cleaning was performed on Rodes' painting while Sala's piece was found to be in perfect condition. They were then integrated into the 'Legacies' exhibition, which is scheduled to close on October 13th and has already been visited by more than 7,000 people.

Additionally, until February 2025, MUBAG is hosting a prominent exhibition featuring thirty pieces from the 'Studiolo' Collection by Candela Álvarez Soldevilla. This exhibition includes works by contemporary artists such as Egon Schiele, Eduardo Arroyo, David Nash, and Ana Laura Aláez and focuses on the head as a symbol of thought beyond its physical representation.

The opening of this exhibition was attended by the Deputy for Culture, Juan de Dios Navarro, along with MUBAG's director Jorge A. Soler and curator Alicia Ventura. The pieces engage in dialogue with each other and with the museum's permanent 19th-century collection, offering visitors a new perspective.