What You Need to Know: At Galerie Michael Haas in Berlin, the recently opened solo show “Jordi Alcaraz: Two Decades” explores the dynamic artistic practice and creative vision of the Catalan artist through a meticulous selection of work from across a broad swath of the artist’s career. The show will notably be on view as part of the gallery’s participation in Charlottenwalk on November 30, and while the primary facet of the show is staged at the gallery’s main space, an additional part is on view at Kunst Lager Haas, viewable by appointment. Running through January 10, 2025, while the exhibition focuses on historic and recent work, together the show brings to life another element: the ability to trace Alcaraz’s overall evolution and the irreducible fundamentals of his practice.
Installation view of “Jordi Alcaraz: Two Decades” (2024). Courtesy of Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin.
About the Artist: Catalan artist Jordi Alcaraz (b. 1963) maintains a practice that taps the traditional modes of painting and sculpture but is marked by a diverse choice of medium and minimalistic pieces that results in work that toes the line between each. Taking inspiration from art historical figures, such as Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, and Eduardo Chillida, as well as art historical artworks like Romanesque or tribal painting, Alcaraz reinterprets these influences into something wholly new. Building intricate constructs between clear panes melded with various types of wooden frames, Alcaraz’s compositions invite viewers to question what they are seeing and reflect on optical reality. In 2024 alone, the artist has been the subject of four international solo exhibitions including the present show with Galerie Michael Haas, and his work has been acquired by important collections worldwide, such as the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona and Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
Installation view of “Jordi Alcaraz: Two Decades” (2024). Courtesy of Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin.
Why We Like It: Galerie Michael Haas describes Alcaraz as “a master of illusion,” and viewing his multi-layered sculptural images the reasoning is apparent. Working with a diverse range of materials and abstract dichotomies, like light and shadow, opacity and translucence, Alcaraz’s constructions appear the product of impossibility. Intuitive yet simultaneously meticulous, the artist’s manner of finishing and treatment obscure how these seeming interior layers or worlds were made. Showcasing works from across two decades of his oeuvre, viewers are granted an invaluable opportunity to visually explore how Alcaraz’s technical approach has evolved, as well as trace his ongoing interrogation of the limits of perception.
Installation view of “Jordi Alcaraz: Two Decades” (2024). Courtesy of Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin.
“Jordi Alcaraz: Two Decades” is on view at Galerie Michae Haas, Berlin, through January 10, 2025.