Combining abstraction with figuration and the world of nature with that of humans

May 08, 2024

One of two artists participating in the exhibition Bi Eskultore / Deux Sculpteurs, alongside Hervé Larrieu, Aitor Ruiz de Egino (Donostia, 1971) works in fields as varied as sculpture, painting and ceramics , but also design, scenography and 3D modeling,

He has his studio in an industrial area of Hernani (Gipuzkoa) near Mount Adarra, whose natural environment is one of his main sources of inspiration and whose name means horn or branch in Basque.

It is perhaps thus no coincidence that elements reminiscent of horns or branches often appear in his works. This is the case, in particular, of the half-abstract, half-naturalist sculpture Bezalgigo which features on the exhibition poster.

Made in bronze, it represents two horses held in the air by two people. The horses' heads merge into a single body with a single tail. Below, the legs of the horses join the arms of the two individuals.

The sculpture's title was invented by Aitor by taking the first syllables of four words in Basque: Be = behean (below), Zal = zaldiak (horses), Gi = gizakiak (people), Go = goian (above). "I try to find a balance between figuration and abstraction," he explains. "For me, there always has to be a story."

As a sculptor, Aitor also works with iron and stone, but especially aluminum, a light and luminous metal which also serves as a support for his paintings and other creations. Aluminum sculptures and paintings on aluminum plates also feature in the exhibition.

Exhibition open from May 1 to May 26, daily except Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free admission