Manama, Bahrain (November 2024) – De Buck Gallery is proud to collaborate with the RAK Art Foundation in presenting “Memories Carved in Steel: Echoes From Dilmun and Beyond,” an extraordinary exhibition by the internationally acclaimed artist Juan Garaizabal, hosted at the Bahrain National Museum from Saturday, November 23, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Celebrated for his monumental installations that capture the essence of memory and the passage of time, Garaizabal’s work will be showcased through twelve large-scale outdoor sculptures, including two pieces specifically commissioned for Manama. Complementing the outdoor exhibit, visitors will also find 10 works on paper and 5 smaller sculptures displayed within the museum, offering a comprehensive exploration of his artistic vision.
A MONUMENTAL EXPLORATION OF MEMORY AND HISTORY
Juan Garaizabal’s art uniquely interweaves architecture, memory, and sculpture to create awe-inspiring monuments that bring the past to life. Central to this exhibition is his acclaimed piece, The Door of Dilmun, inspired by the ancient and mythologized city of Dilmun, famed for its association with purity and eternal life. Garaizabal’s work, composed of stainless steel and concrete, evokes an ethereal quality, embodying sketches of the past that transcend time. According to the artist, this piece “stands as a monument to the fleeting nature of human greatness, reminding us that even the most splendid civilizations are destined to fade.”
In addition to these new creations, visitors will experience ten outdoor sculptures that harmonize with Bahrain’s landscape, offering a unique interaction between art and environment. The indoor segment of the exhibition features detailed drawings and smaller sculptures that extend the narrative, inviting guests into a reflective journey bridging history and modernity.
ARTISTIC THEMES AND RECOGNITION
Garaizabal’s body of work examines the dimensions of time and space, challenging viewers to reconsider their relationship with the past. His sculptures have been featured in renowned art venues worldwide, including a recent landmark installation at Art Basel, Switzerland, and the celebrated Urban Memory Miami Havana’s Balcony. Notably, his creation Ever Time Gate was awarded at the Jing’An Sculpture Biennial in Shanghai in 2020.
The artist’s transformative public art projects also include La Memoria del Giardino, presented at the Venice Biennale in 2013, and Berlin Memoria Urbana, which continue to influence contemporary art discourse by engaging with collective memory and the transient nature of human achievements.
Beyond his international acclaim, Garaizabal is currently developing the International Center for Nature and Contemporary Sculpture near Madrid. “This will be my legacy for future generations, a place where sculpture blends seamlessly with nature and invites interaction,” he explains.
About Juan Garaizabal
Juan Garaizabal is a Spanish artist renowned for his large-scale sculptures and installations. His signature style involves using metal and light to craft symbolic representations of lost buildings and historical events, breathing new life into forgotten narratives. Garaizabal’s work compels viewers to contemplate themes of memory, history, and the ever-evolving urban landscape. His artistic journey has taken him to prestigious galleries and museums worldwide, including the esteemed Venice Biennale. As a dedicated public artist, Garaizabal has created transformative works such as La Memoria del Giardino for the Venice Biennale 2013 and the Berlin Memoria Urbana project. Each of these pieces reflects his deep engagement with the landscapes of memory, fostering dialogues between the physicality of space and the intangible qualities of human recollection.
About De Buck Gallery
De Buck Gallery has long stood as a dynamic and influential presence in the contemporary art world. Established with spaces in New York, Saint-Paul-de-Vene, Frane, and Antwerp, Belgium, the gallery has curated a vibrant program highlighting figurative painting, innovative fiber art, abstract painting, and sculpture by both established and emerging artists. Over the years, the gallery has organized significant exhibitions by artists such as Devan Shimoyama, Zak Ove, Tahnee Lonsdale, Jeffrey Gibson, and Juan Garaizabal, earning recognition in prestigious publications like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Artforum. This legacy of artistic excellence and cultural engagement has positioned De Buck Gallery as a respected voice in the art world.
In 2024, De Buck Gallery is transitioning to a project-based advisory model, allowing for a more focused and collaborative approach to supporting artists and art collectors alike. In this new phase, the gallery will engage with its roster of artists, consulting directly with them and their estates, while also offering specialized art advisory services to individual collectors, private foundations, and museums. The gallery’s advisory division assists clients with strategic acquisitions in both the primary and secondary markets and provides organizational support for exhibitions in partnership with private institutions. By expanding its services and operating as a global art advisory, De Buck continues its commitment to excellence, providing a holistic approach that meets the evolving needs of artists and art collectors worldwide.
De Buck’s expertise also extends to advising clients at the intersection of art and technology, art and finance, as well as art and real estate. The advisory team has successfully supported various notable platforms across these industries.
One of the most recent and significant projects realized by the gallery is the extraordinary exhibition of 12 monumental sculptures by the acclaimed Spanish artist Juan Garaizabal. This exhibition, titled “Memories Carved in Steel: Echoes from Dilmun and Beyond,” is hosted at the Bahrain National Museum from Saturday, November 23, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Renowned for his monumental installations that encapsulate memory and the passage of time, Garaizabal’s works will be showcased in an outdoor setting, with two pieces specifically commissioned for this exhibition.
