In Cataratas, Cristina de Middel offers a critical reflection on the way we see—or believe we see—the world, particularly in relation to Africa. A waterfall clouds our vision, blurs the contours and turns looking into an uncertain act. In a present saturated with images, where photography has lost its aura of truth to navigate between overexposure and suspicion, de Middel chooses to embrace blurring as part of the creative process.

The exhibition is structured around a selection of works from several of the artist’s iconic series—The Afronauts, Midnight at the Crossroads, Funmilayo, Mirador, and This is What Hatred Did—which challenge colonial imaginaries, dominant media narratives, and the stereotypes that have historically constrained the representation of the African continent.

Far from offering definitive answers, these images act as fragmentary gestures, open visual questions that point to the limits of our perspective. The “cataract” in the title alludes both to cultural opacity and to the relentless torrent of images that shape our perception. In this context, accepting that limit becomes the first step toward seeing—and understanding—differently.

Iván Forcadell positions himself between the autobiographical, the rural, and the symbolically everyday in "No título".

Far from offering a closed thematic axis, the exhibition is constructed as an open invitation to the viewer. The artist himself defines it as a space without a fixed center, where tradition, the countryside, nature, folklore, community, life, and death coexist. These elements, more than intellectual concepts, are an essential part of his emotional biography and his aesthetic universe.

Forcadell proposes a perspective free of curatorial labels, opting for a direct and intuitive experience with the work. Rather than imposing a specific reading, No título suggests that each visitor complete the void of the title with their own associations, feelings, and memories. The exhibition thus becomes a fertile ground for interpretation, where the personal mixes with the collective, and the popular with the poetic.

We look forward to seeing you at ‘By Invitation’ with Mónica Jover Calvo and Ivan Forcadell.

SELTZ by Ritter Ferrer will take part from November 6 to 9 in By Invitation, the modern and contemporary art fair held at the Círculo Ecuestre in Barcelona.

In the Palacete section, Mónica Jover Calvo presents a selection of works and a thread installation created specifically for the event, blending pictorial lyricism with technical experimentation. Her practice, focused on painting yet deeply influenced by the textile field and the use of thread as an essential element, is marked by an introspective sensitivity that explores the nature of being.

In addition, visitors can also enjoy a selection of works by Ivan Forcadell, whose vibrant and irreverent aesthetic—featuring bold colours and an open narrative—is always ready to engage playfully with the viewer.

The sixth edition of this fair revolves around the concept “Lines of Time”, a reflection on time as a fabric that connects generations, geographies, and imaginaries.

DATES AND OPENING HOURS
Thursday, November 6 · 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Friday, November 7 · 12:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 8 · 12:00–8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 · 10:00–3:00 p.m.

If you wish to attend, send us an email at barcelona@seltz.art and we’ll send you your invitation.

Come and experience SELTZ at By Invitation.