CONTENTS

6 Director’s Foreword

8 Excerpts from ‘Micrographia’

10 Micrographia No.1

12 Micrographia No.2

14 Micrographia No.3

16 Micrographia No.4

18 Micrographia No.5

22 Micrographia No.6

24 Micrographia No.7

26 Micrographia No.8

28 Micrographia No.9

30 Micrographia No.10

32 Micrographia No.11

34 Micrographia No.12

36 Micrographia No.13

37 Micrographia No.14

38 Micrographia No.15

40 Micrographia No.16

42 Micrographia No.17

44 Maps I

45 Maps II

46 Landscape

48 Mountain Range

51 Mountain Range I

52 Micrographia - Mountains No. 1-15

54 Cell No.1

55 Cell No.2

56 Cell No.3

57 Cell No.4

58 Cell No.5

59 Cell No.6

60 Membrane

64 Price List

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Puerta Roja and the Cat Street gallery are proud to announce an unprecedented one-artist two gallery show by a highly sought-after, young Spanish artist, María García-Ibáñez, entitled Micrographia.

Micrographia takes its name from the 1665 book by scientist and artist, Robert Hooke. A compilation of his own illustrations of some of the first microscopic observations of natural elements such as snow, ice and fossils brought a wealth of scientific data but also opened a fantastic miniature world to the public. Its magnificent illustrations were far more than careful observations; this book was one of the first fruits of science to strike deep into the non-scientific imagination of the public. With a deep sense of how science, philosophy and the arts can converge, Hooke revolutionised a new way of “seeing things”.

Through her elegant drawings on paper and ceramic sculptures, Maria searches, as Hooke did, for a different perspective in the understanding of our environment, of “seeing” the elements and structures that surround us through a different light, and in this journey revealing their otherwise hidden beauty. Drawings and tri-dimensional forms, maquettes and membranes all represent structures that both multiply and are dissected through the microscope of their own graphic language, defying our perception of scale and matter.

With her career on a stratospheric trajectory, García-Ibáñez’s latest body of work is a truly exciting early look at a star on the rise. We greatly look forward to presenting this solo exhibition of an unquestionable talent.

DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD

Adriana Alvarez-Nichol

Founder and Art Dealer Puerta Roja

Mandy d’Abo

Founder and Director The Cat Street Gallery

&

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“It is the great prerogative of Mankind above other Creatures, that we are not only able to behold the works of Nature, or barely to sustein our lives by them, but we have also the power of considering, comparing, altering, assisting, and improving them to various uses. And as this is the peculiar priviledge of humane Nature in general, so is it capable of being so far advanced by the helps of Art, and Experience, as to make some Men excel others in their Observations, and Deductions, almost as much as they do Beasts. By the addition of such artificial Instruments and methods, there may be, in some manner, a reparation made for the mischiefs, and imperfection, mankind has drawn upon it self.”*

“By the means of Telescopes, there is nothing so far distant but may be represented to our view; and by the help of Microscopes, there is nothing so small, as to escape our inquiry; hence there is a new visible World discovered to the understanding. By this means the Heavens are open’d, and a vast number of new Stars, and new Motions, and new Productions appear in them, to which all the ancient Astronomers were utterly Strangers. By this the Earth it self, which lyes so neer us, under our feet, shews quite a new thing to us, and in every little particle of its matter; we now behold almost as great a variety of Creatures, as we were able before to reckon up in the whole Universe it self.”*

*Excerpts from Robert Hooke, 1665 ‘Micrographia, Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses with Observations and Inquiries Thereupon’

EXCERPTS FROM ‘MICROGRAPHIA’

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Plate 1: Micrographia No. 1 Hand drawn laser cut paper

Approx. 90 x 150 cm 2013

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Plate 2: Micrographia No. 2 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut95 x 65 cm 2013

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Plate 3: Micrographia No. 3 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut

96 x 77 cm 2013

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Plate 4: Micrographia No. 4 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut95 x 65 cm 2013

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Plate 5: Micrographia No. 5 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut

50 x 50 cm 2013

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“María García-Ibáñez’s art displays a simplicity of lines, purity and elegance that almost betrays the deep discourse and moral dilemmas that are embodied in her work.

Fascinated with anatomical constructions and organic forms she buries herself deeply in understanding underlying structures, cells, bones, tissue, veins, anatomical and geographical maps. She questions them, dissects them and then reconstructs their essence and layers with a deeply feminine aesthetic style.”

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Plate 6: Micrographia No. 6 Gouache on cotton paper and laser cut36 x 34 cm 2013

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Plate 7: Micrographia No. 7 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut

74 x 54 cm 2013

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Plate 8: Micrographia No. 8 Gouache on cotton paper and laser cut50 x 40 cm 2013

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Plate 9: Micrographia No. 9 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut

49 x 49 cm 2013

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Plate 10: Micrographia No. 10 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut54 x 45 cm 2013

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Plate 11: Micrographia No. 11 Gouache on cotton paper and laser cut

75 x 54 cm 2013

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Plate 12: Micrographia No. 12 Charcoal pencil, gouache and watercolour on cotton paper and laser cut95 x 65 cm 2013

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Plate 13: Micrographia No. 13 Gouache on cotton paper and laser cut64 x 64 cm 2013

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Plate 14: Micrographia No. 14 Gouache on cotton paper and laser cut

64 x 64 cm 2013

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Plate 15: Micrographia No. 15 Colour pencil on cotton paper and laser cut

83 x 83 cm 2013

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Plate 16: Micrographia No. 16 Triptych, collage on paper and laser cut paper65 x 43 cm each 2013

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Plate 17: Micrographia No. 17 Collage on paper and laser cut paper

43 x 43 cm 2013

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Plate 18: Maps IDigital print on paper

71 x 59 cm 2013

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Plate 19: Maps IIDigital print on paper71 x 59 cm 2013

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Plate 20: LandscapeGouache on paper56 x 138 cm 2013

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Plate 21: Mountain Range Glazed ceramic95 x 25 x 95 cm 2013

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Plate 22: Mountain Range detail Glazed ceramic30 x 30 cm 2013

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Plate 23: Mountain Range No. 1Gouache on Paper

88 x 68 cm 2013

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Plate 24: Micrographia - Mountains No. 1-15 Glazed and crackled ceramicVariable dimensions, installation area 55 x 55 cm 2013

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Plate 25: Cell No. 1 Digital print, gouache and watercolour on paper80 x 60 cm 2013

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Plate 26: Cell No. 2 Digital print, gouache and watercolour on paper

80 x 60 cm 2013

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Plate 27: Cell No. 3 Digital print, gouache and watercolour on paper80 x 60 cm 2013

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Plate 28: Cell No. 4 Digital print, gouache and watercolour on paper

80 x 60 cm 2013

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Plate 29: Cell No. 5 Digital print, gouache and watercolour on paper80 x 60 cm 2013

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Plate 30: Cell No. 6 Digital print, gouache and watercolour on paper

80 x 60 cm 2013

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Plate 31: MembraneGlazed ceramic installation

235 individual pieces, approx. 220 x 170 cm2013

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“María’s works reflect a marriage, a reconciliation between science and aesthetics, contemporary digital techniques and traditional craftsmanship, the views of the old and the ‘new’ worlds, the anatomical construction of the human body and its soul, feminine strength and vulnerability.”

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222 Hollywood Road | T +852 2291 0006 | www.thecatstreetgallery.comThe Cat Street Gallery