Francesc Abad

Analogies, 1991

Media installation, 1 photograph: 240 x 350 cm; 1 marble piece: 150 x 90 cm

The Medusa image sculpted by Bernini in the 17th century is used by Francesc Abad to activate reflection on the power of the mass media in the construction of the contemporary gaze. This character from classical mythology, who turned everyone who dared to look at her into stone, could only be defeated by the skill of Perseus, who was able to draw near to her by having Medusa reflected in the shield he was carrying. “The human being no longer communicates directly; the communicative process is developed by means of mediating processes. The Medusa-TV analogy articulates the capacity to resist seduction.” Who is the one who must cut off the head of this contemporary Medusa, following on the artist’s analogy? Who might be so bold as to unmask media spectacularity, all the while staring truth in the face?

Technical details

Original title:: Analogies
Registration number:: RT.0012
Artist:: Abad, Francesc
Date created:: 1991
Fonds:: MACBA Collection. Barcelona City Council long-term. Gift of Rafael Tous
Object type:: Media installation
Media:: C-Print, golden wooden frame, marble stele and single-channel video, colour, sound, loop
Dimensions:: 1 photograph: 240 x 350 cm; 1 marble piece: 150 x 90 cm (height x width x depth)
Credits:: MACBA Collection. Long-term loan of Barcelona City Council. Gift of Rafael Tous
Copyright:: © Francesc Abad, VEGAP, Barcelona
It has accessibility resources:: No

The MACBA Collection features Catalan, Spanish and international art and, although it includes works from the 1920s onwards, its primary focus is on the period between the 1960s and the present.

For more information on the work or the artist, please consult MACBA's Library. To request a loan of the work, please write to colleccio [at] macba.cat.

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Technical details

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