Bienal de Pontevedra

Manuel Vilariño delves into the connection between life and death, to be or not to be, through a large installation based on a checkerboard, inspired by Bwa masks (butterfly, hawk). These masks, with a checkerboard carved on the back, are used in initiation rituals by young people in West Africa, especially in the southwestern region of Burkina Faso and in the Malian town of San. The Bwa, farmers and skilled craftsmen, see in their masks the representation of spirits of nature that influence humans. In the installation, a mountain of turmeric, a spice from India with a strong aroma and an orange colour, symbolises life. Meanwhile, the song of two whales evokes myths and legends. All this is displayed in a space that dialogues with Santa Clara Church, creating an atmosphere that invites us to reflect on the cycle of life and death, connecting the ancient with the contemporary. The use of animals and spices in Vilariño's work has a deep symbolism. Animals represent the human relationship with the natural world, exploring fragility, mystery and connection issues. Spices, with their history, scents and sensory properties, have a strong historical importance and a long-standing connection to life and death through their symbolic, ritual and cultural use over the centuries. In many cultures, spices have been associated with funerary practices, rites of passage and preservation of bodies.