Singers like Lady Gaga are not alone in having found inspiration during the Covid-19 pandemic. Contemporary artists like Spain’s Cristobal Gabarrón have also used this period to release some creative juices.
Confined to his home in Valladolid since the start of the pandemic, Gabarrón says he’s been sketching “like a madman”. “I work in a world that is very visceral, inspiration comes from inside, deep in my guts.... When I see something clearly I need to put it down on paper immediately, and sketch the ideas before they escape me,” he says.
Known worldwide for his artwork centering on humanism, often relying on a bright pallet of colours and unusual shapes, the acclaimed artist and sculptor says he’s been working on five new pieces to add to Enlightened Universe, an outdoor sculpture he created in 2015 to celebrate the United Nations’ 70th anniversary.
Cristobal Gabarron at the inauguration of his sculture Enlightened Universe during United Nations Day in Geneva in 2016. United Nations photo: Jean-Marc Ferré
Featuring 70 colourful, life-size figures circling a giant silver globe, Enlightened Universe pays homage to the diversity of society and the values of human rights. After its inauguration in New York’s Central Park in 2015 in the presence of then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the artwork travelled to Europe to be displayed in large public spaces in Geneva, Amsterdam and Brussels.
With the UN’s 75th anniversary on the horizon, Gabarrón says he was inspired over the past five years by developments in areas including climate action, the protection of refugees and migrants and human rights, among others, to add new elements to his existing work.
“These five additional pieces are a first analysis – very primitive, visceral – of my interpretation of the past five years and their impact on the work of the United Nations,” says Gabarrón, who is eager to return to his workshops to work on his sculptures.
His giant pieces shaped out of materials like fibreglass, granite, metal or other matters often reach several meters so he needs space to work on them. “Now I need to shape my ideas, work on them physically ... I need to go out, go to the studio, have those pieces ready for the anniversary.”
Working from home, he’s been making sketches and small-scale models of future pieces he’s eager to create. While he is sympathetic to the plight of people who have had to live in a few square-meters for weeks on end, Gabarrón says he has managed to make the best of being cooped up at home. “As an artist, I need silence and isolation to work, so this imposed confinement didn’t disturb my daily life too much.”
Redefining himself
If anything positive came out of this crisis, for Gabarrón it was the chance to redefine himself and his work in relation to society. And, for the world to redefine the very essence of humanity, he adds.
“We are very dependent on things. We have to stop, sit down, go much deeper into human values and the values of solidarity, values that bring us all together, that help balance our world. We create imbalance on so many levels: nature, our contacts with others, our conversations, our positions… I think we have neglected the way we relate with the rest of society.”
As someone who closely observes human nature, Gabarrón says he has been most impressed by the solidarity people have demonstrated during the crisis and the tremendous work done by healthcare professionals.
“Society is stronger when its members think of others. I’ve always been an advocate of public health because it makes us all equal, young people, old people, rich and poor… to be fair and supportive, a health system has to be maintained and remain accessible to everyone.”
With Spain among the hardest hit countries by the pandemic, registering more than 25,000 deaths and 217,000 confirmed cases so far, citizens have had to live through one of the most severe lockdowns in Europe. The artist says the Spanish people have managed well through the crisis, acting as “true citizens” and abiding by the measures taken to tackle the spread of the virus.
Like many other countries, Spain is just starting to relax its rules of confinement. And like many others, Gabarrón, who has a big family, many acquaintances and friends, says he is looking forward to the day he can hug people again.
Crisòbal Gabarròn meets children during International Human Rights Day at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. United Nations photo: Violaine Martin
In the meantime, the artist quietly celebrated his 75th birthday on 25 April, a birthday he shares with the United Nations – the same day the world body was created in San Francisco in 1945. This might explain the almost symbiotic relationship the artist has had with the global organization for many years, Enlightened Universe being only one of several projects he’s been associated with at the United Nations.
What will the five new additions to Enlightened Universe look like? The artist is keeping mum on that for the moment, but the designs are neatly tucked away in his workshop waiting to become reality. Tune in on 24 October for the unveiling, at a location yet to be disclosed.
