Photography. The Murcian artist presents ‘From inside project’ in Los Molinos del Río, a journey into the chiaroscuro of the soul that leads viewers to ask themselves very profound questions
The photos of the sea in ‘From inside project’ -in Los Molinos del Río de Murcia, until July 26- defend themselves, but their author, the photographer Pilar Morales (Murcia, 1977), defends them even more vigorously, inviting viewers to ‘a journey to the sea from the heart’. A project that has been cherished for more than two decades and has been included with complete success in the ‘Cultural Reagents’ program of the Municipal Council of Murcia. The 36 selected images out of thousands are shown in an exhibition for the first time.
Recognizing himself as “a born existentialist”, Morales resorts to a few verses from ‘Nostaljia del mar noche soñado’ -yes, with an iota- by Juan Ramón Jiménez to explain the spirit of ‘Project from within’: «The land takes over land; but you, sea, carry through the air»; “You would say that the land is the path of the body, that the sea is the path of the soul”: “How similar is the journey from the sea to that of death, that of eternal life!” For Morales, ‘From inside project’ represents “a journey through the soul: through my soul and through the soul of the viewer himself”. A line, as a horizon, marks the order so that visitors, like the photographer, feel inside or outside the water. “There is already an immersion for the viewer. The tour begins in a more jovial way, almost as an entertainment, or distraction, as a lack of concern, like that part of life that is also enjoying and taking advantage of the moment. And we go to that double meaning that beauty has, that in its own attraction there is also a dark part, such as yin and yang. The mirror appears, the echo, the reflection… also understood as the reflection of itself».
There are also pictures that appeal to love and human relationships, and in another, dark room, this game of mystery and attraction continues to the images of the series ‘Dark waters’, where we find a rotten, wounded, dying sea . .. «It is of course the Mar Menor, but it is not specified. I did not want to specify the years of the photos and the context, as this takes us out of the narrative discourse of the exhibition,” he announced.
The artist has felt up close in the sea the beauty, the danger, the insignificance of man, the fragility, the regenerative capacity of nature… «Actually I would say that this is all I have felt in life’, he tells THE TRUTH. “Because that pull that the sea has can kill you, you can suddenly find yourself caught in a fatal current and drown. The sea shows that nature is something superior to man. The same thing I have felt in life is illustrated in something very concrete like the sea, where you cannot ignore its dangers. And at the same time you can enjoy it.”
For all its beauties, perhaps, as Pilar Morales says, this world is doomed to drift. “This society is deteriorating, and in the sea at least you have that feeling of relaxation, because you float, gravity is completely different and, no doubt, in the sea I feel much more comfortable than on land.” Morales loves the sea and combines it with his profession: photography.
«This whole project consists of images for which I didn’t have to impose any rules on myself. I have worked as I felt and of course I combine my two passions. Because it is true that despite the fact that it is a very difficult profession, I need photography, and shooting in my own way continues to fascinate me». The exhibition, in the darkest part, leads the viewer to what the artist calls “the thinking corner”, a corner in the building designed by the architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg where a mirror and a photo hang as a cry: « It is a reflection of me , but also from all of us, a pescozoncico so that for a second in this society we look at each other so quickly that it does not let us stop for a second, that forces us to madness. I want us to stand up, analyze ourselves, criticize ourselves and pat ourselves on the back if we need to to build a better society. May the times we live in be more truly human and more respectful of nature.
Morales would understand perfectly with the French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, more than with Bob, the famous square yellow sponge who lives in Bikini Bottom. “Better with Cousteau than with SpongeBob, that seems a bit cheeky!” laughs this ‘Pisces’ born in the year of the ‘Punk’ movement. He wants to show ‘From inside project’ «in many more places on the peninsula», and of course also near the sea. It took her a long time to feel confident enough to show this work: “I’m quite indecisive, and I would need a good dose of certainty”. Perhaps he hadn’t realized that this happiness was coming: the moment to present a creative effort that also bears the title in Chinese, with the words heart and sea, “because it is a more symbolic and concrete language. ”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
