Inspired by artistic movements such as constructivism, ready-made , Bauhaus and surrealism, The Ignorant Gardener fuses sculpture and photography to generate images that play with the absurd and irony, breaking any conventional logic. Vegetables, utensils and agricultural tools are decontextualized and combined guided only by aesthetic criteria, giving shape to ephemeral sculptures that are built in situ , with the agricultural landscape as a backdrop. This creative process, developed by Yurian Quintanas (Amsterdam, 1983) at the inLoft contemporary culture center in Copons , starts from real fieldwork in the orchards, where the sculptures are immortalized in still life photographs before each object returns to its place of origin.
With this proposal, Quintanas not only questions our relationship with the land and invites us to rethink the bond we maintain with nature, but also highlights the growing disconnection of new generations with natural cycles and horticulture , increasingly blurred by digitalization and modern conveniences.
The Ignorant Gardener, Yurian Quintanas
The project will be exhibited at the FineArt Igualada festival, which this year will be held from February 21 to March 16, 2025 and will turn the city of Igualada into the epicenter of photography. This 13th edition stands out for its focus on women, both in the participation of female photographers and in the themes addressed, which revolve around femininity, gender equality and the demand for women's rights. For the first time, female photographers outnumber male photographers, thus reaffirming the festival's commitment to making female talent visible in the world of images.
With a total of 36 exhibitions distributed across emblematic spaces in the city, FineArt Igualada is expanding its horizons this year with two new locations: the Horts Urbans in the Rec neighborhood and the La Capelleta building. This expansion reinforces the spirit of the festival, which year after year seeks to enrich the artistic experience and bring photography closer to new scenarios. Whether through the critical gaze of Yurian Quintanas or the diversity of authors and authors present at the festival, this edition invites us to rethink the world around us and rediscover the power of images to tell stories and generate reflection.
Hijas de ningún Dios, Núria López Torres