Art without rules.

In Spain there are many different forms of artistic expression. These art forms give a new vision to the world which surrounds us. For centuries these expressions of art have borne witness to the evolution of culture.

Spanish sculpture, traditional ceramics, silver work, the creation of buildings from raw materials, comics, film and theatre are all forms of artistic expression. Spanish art forms serve as a witness to the time in which they were created and provide a historical testimony for future generations.

These artistic expressions are not always found in Spanish museums and are often hidden from the visitor´s eyes. The information in this section will serve as a guide so that you can discover the many artistic curiosities throughout Spain. Remembering and discovering Spanish art will also serve as a pleasant souvenir in the form of a memory that will last a lifetime.

CERAMICS

Over the last few years, the colorful ceramics for which Spain is famous has become big marketable business abroad. But, ceramics in Spain is more than a business, it is a tradition: earthenware dishes, tiles, vases, and other ceramics with bright colors and beautiful designs have been crafted in the Iberian Peninsula for centuries.

The majority of intricately designed azulejos (tiles) that adorn the walls of the Alhambra palace in Granada - as well as many houses throughout the southern Andalusia region- are heavily influenced by Arab culture: Islamic religion does not allow representation of humans in artwork, therefore many azulejos, potteries and other crafts were decorated with florals and complex geometric patterns. Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí took decorating with azulejos to new levels in his native Barcelona: Gaudí incorporated millions of broken natural and glazed ceramic tiles into his works of arts to create the strikingly odd displays of colourful mosaic-style creations that can be admired in places such as Parc Guell and Casa Batllo.

Although big cities like Valencia and Sevilla are home to large manufacturers that take care of mass ceramic productions, small towns also make their marks by making their own pottery and ceramics in distinctive styles. A town with a rich legacy of artisan ceramics can be found right on the banks of the Tajo River about forty-five minutes from Toledo. This town is Talavera de la Reina, and is renowned for maintaining centuries-old traditional Castilian pottery and for setting the highest standard for the rest of the world. In Latin America, especially in Mexico, the common term for hand-painted ceramics produced in colors like cobalt blue, sunflower yellow, green and white is "Talavera," paying homage to its origins. Talavera also holds a Ceramics Museum which displays astonishing ceramic pieces ranging from the XVI century to the XX century on a year-round basis.

The typical colors used in the decoration of ceramics are those associated with the sunny Mediterranean coast: cobalt blue, deep yellow, red, purple, pink, and white. Since a good deal of the ceramics made in Spain are individually hand-spun on a wheel or molded by hand, and then fired, glazed, painted and fired again, you will often find that although common in resemblance, no two pieces are exactly alike. Their lively bright colors - which are trademarks of Spanish ceramics - mask these “imperfections” and make these artworks great for table use or simply as decoration!

Some Spanish ceramics lack colors and yet remain beautiful. Cazuelas de barro, for example, are glazed clay bowls that are practical in every way: they can be used as serving plates, are freezer safe, and tough enough to handle baking in your oven, stovetop and microwave cooking! Cazuelas come in a variety of sizes, from 10cm (4inch) to a whopping 36cm (14 inch). This type of earthenware cookery is traditionally used to present a crema catalana, cook a mean stew like the fabada asturiana or serving strongish flan!

A wide selection of handmade and hand-painted bowls, plates, vases and tiles to suit everyone's tastes, needs and decoration style are available for purchase on trips to Spain or from many of the ceramic retailers online. Why not study Spanish in Spain and take home your very own traditional ceramic art?

PHOTOS

Ouka Leele Bárbala Allende Gil de Biedma, known as Ouka Leele, was born in Madrid in 1957. Ouka Leele, alongside Pedro Almodóvar and Ceesepe, was a witness and protagonist of the Madrilenian Groove Scene (La Movida Madrileña) movement. Her photographs have been exhibited in important cities worldwide including Paris, London, New York, Tokyo and São Paulo.

Ouka Leele's photography is characterized by a traditional Spanish style combined with many colors. She usually takes the picture in black and white and adds color afterwards. One of this Spanish photographer's most renowned pictures is called the Rappelle-toi Bárbara. In order to take this famous Spanish picture, Ouka Leele had to stop traffic on the Gran Vía (a main avenue) of Madrid. The director Javier Gordon made a documentary called La Mirada de Ouka Leele that details the artist's vision during the period in which she created this famous piece of work.

Famous photographs by Ouka Leele:

• Rappelle-toi Bárbara

• The Kiss

• Lemons

• Young Hakes

• Hairdresser's

Isabel Muñoz Isabel Muñoz, a Barcelona native based in Madrid, has focused her photography in black and white. This famous Spanish photographerfinds her inspiration in anatomical forms and human body parts, flamenco, tango and Asian dances as well as martial art dance styles like capuera. These sources of inspiration show the human bode in a tense and sensual state.

Isabel Muñoz develops her photos using a classical technique. She prepares the photographic paper by soaking it in platinum and then places the negative of the same size directly over the paper. Next she cleans the photograph by hand to set the image.

Isabel Muñoz's photographs can be found on display at the European House of Photography (MEP) in Paris, the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York or the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston.

Famous photographs by Isabel Muñoz:

• Maras

• Tango

• Ballet Nacional de Cuba

• Danza Cubana

• Danza Khmer

Ramón Masats Ramón Masats is another Spanish photographer who is a Barcelona native based in Madrid. He is one of the most famous Spanish photographers and, in addition to his photography, he also produces documentary films. He was a graphic reporter for various Spanish magazines such as the Gaceta Ilustrada and Mundo Hispánico. In 1963 Ramon Masats published a book called Los Sanfermines for which he received the Ibarra award for best edited book.

Ramon's famous Spanish pictures and documentaries are inspired by Spanish customs and portraits. His photography is not intended to serve as a denunciation, but rather as a witness to the society around us. These ideals are seen in his famous picture “Woman painting the floor”.

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