The exhibition "The Blue, The Journey, The Unknown" brings together works by various artists who employ different techniques and mediums. The unifying theme of these pieces is their monochromatic use of blue, which all of them reflect what the color blue has meant throughout the history of art.
The artists are: Jon Gorospe (curator), Marianne Bjørnmyr, Javier Barrios, Terje Abusdal, Yngvild K. Rolland and Mariona Berenger.
Photo: Jon Gorospe
Blue Velvet by Jon Gorospe (photo: Jon Gorospe)
If we delve into the methods of its extraction—because there is no "what" without a "how"—we realize the historical complexity of accessing blue for artists.
Here are a few examples:
Lapis Lazuli Blue (Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia) primarily originated from Afghanistan, where it was extracted from a semiprecious stone used to produce the pigment. This blue was also known as ultramarine because it reached Europe only after crossing the seas.
Indigo and Woad Blue (Middle Ages and Renaissance) were plant-based. Indigo came from the Indigofera tinctoria plant, cultivated in Asia and Africa, while woad blue was derived from Isatis tinctoria, grown in Europe.
Maya Blue (Pre-Columbian America) was created by heating a mixture of indigo and a special clay called palygorskite, resulting in a pigment resistant to high temperatures and humidity.
Photo: Jon Gorospe
Cobalt Blue (Ancient Persia, Norway, and Saxony) was popularized during medieval Europe. It was derived from cobalt oxide extracted from cobalt-bearing stones, which were then heated at high temperatures to produce the treasured blue.
Prussian Blue (18th century) was accidentally discovered during chemical experiments mixing iron with potassium, marking the beginning of the first synthetic blue pigment.
Art piece by Javier Barrios (photo: Jon Gorospe)
With this historical background in mind, the works presented in the exhibition pay homage to the extensive journeys and relentless curiosity that have driven humanity to pursue this elusive color. They reflect the desire to explore what lies beyond the known, uncover what remains hidden, and venture into the unknown.
Text by Jon Gorospe.
Art pieces by Yngvild K. Rolland (left) and Marianne Bjørnmyr (right) Photo: Jon Gorospe