Russian Academy of Fine Arts opens Angel Orensanz 20-year retrospective 3 March as Spain in Russia takes grip

Angel Orsensanz autograph, April 1970.

How many Spanish-born artists from New York can claim membership in the Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg?

By last count, only one: Angel Orensanz, who has forged a solid and intimate impact on contemporary Russian art since arriving in Moscow in1991.

As fitting payback to the Spanish-American, and integral to last week's red-carpet Hermitage Museum opening of Spain's Year in Russia (and Russia's in Spain), the Museum of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg on 3 March opened "Angel Orensanz: 20 Years in Russia," which runs through 3 April  at the academy.

The show includes constructions and "art interventions," musical pieces, digital media and sculptural assemblage, according to a news release.

Orensanz, known for edgy social and political content in his work, like "Burning Universe" or "the Shattered Tent," offers an a retro visual scan of his artistic psyche.

In 1974, in the Lower East Side of New York, he bought an aging, abandoned synogue for a reported "500,000, creating the Angel Oresanz Foundation, which currently offers through 3 Oct., "A Little Retrospective."

It displays a fair sampling of his work: drawings, metal and fabric sculptures, photography and "The Matter/Light Project," which transforms landscapes into terrains of coloured light.


He is also known for his environmental concept installations in London, Moscow, Berlin and New York.

In 2007, Orensanz helped celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris, where it was signed.

UNESCO recently named him as a member of the World Council of Peoples for the UN.

One of Orensaz's installations.

 
The RAA inducted him in 2009.

Rock on and practice peace and love.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Jimmy Hendrix.

Stefan, the ArtTraveler(TM).

Bentomiz, Salares, Spain. Photo by S. van Drake.

Considering a walking holiday in our Andalusian mountains? Or a week-long sculpture or mosaics workshop? Check out: www.spanjeanders.nl or www.competafinearts.com.