Through 105 heliogravures divided into 7 thematic sections, Unai San Martín invites us to abstract ourselves by gazing affably at images of landscapes, urban details and objects, without dwelling on the physical details of their location or the possible stories they contain. The simple, yet at the same time, resounding beauty of his images holds our attention and makes us travel and connect with those personal emotions and feelings that shape each of our biographical journeys. At a time when the frenetic pace of images and sounds leaves little room to recreate ourselves in our surroundings, Unai suggests a form of return – nostos in Greek – to nature, our original home, in a contemplative attitude; perception in slow motion that is free from longing.
Not many artists have the nerve to use this ancient, complex technique of heliogravure. It is a special process in which the image is transferred onto a copper or zinc plate, inked and printed on quality paper by passing it under an etching press.
The technique was developed in the late 19th century in order to be able to create many photographic copies. It enjoyed a major heyday in the early decades of the 20th century and was used in publications and important magazines such as Camera Work, directed by Alfred Stieglitz. But the advent of new, cheaper technologies, such as offset, meant that the painstaking and therefore more expensive process of heliogravure could not compete commercially. Nonetheless, the uniqueness, quality and beauty of the images obtained with heliogravure have led contemporary artists to choose this technique it in order to print their images.
Curator: María Millán
Exhibition `Unai San Martín. Nostos' at Kutxa Kultur Artegunea.
