This project comprises two exhibitions – one solo and one group show – that use the idea of the shadow as a conceptual tool to explore identity, memory and violence. At first glance, the use of black and white might appear a simplistic choice or even a rhetorical device within the curatorial narrative. Yet this decision arises from a deep impulse where memory twists and resists being pigeonholed as the perfect metaphor for black-and-white imaginaries.
Breaking down the binary oppositions associated with a dichotomous worldview is, in itself, an act of resistance against social stereotypes, opening the way to explore shades of grey that defy any reductive framework. The dual concept of positive and negative has formed part of a set of conventions that have led us to believe reality and fiction are opposing realms, rather than complementary codes enriching our perception of the world.
In this context, mythology emerges as a means of exploring these dualities through archetypal representations. Narratives of gods and heroes often involve confronta-tions with shadows – both literal and metaphorical – that mirror the internal and ex-ternal struggles we face. For example, in Greek mythology, Hades not only embodies death but also transformation and rebirth. The hero’s journey, a recurring motif across cultures, typically includes a descent into darkness followed by resurrection, under-scoring the need to confront our own shadows. Conflicts between opposites in foun-dational myths invite reinterpretations that recognise these polarities as parts of an unclassified spectrum of greys.
Shadows, used as a narrative device, allow concepts and ideas – conveyed through symbols and analogies – to reveal a more complex reality. Both the notions of black and white and shadows have shaped the cultural imagination through cinema, photography and art.
Artists: Berta Cáccamo, Paz Errázuriz, Thomas Ruff, Louise Bourgeois, Bernd & Hilla Becher, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Rula Halawani, Chema Madoz, Eulàlia Valldosera, Anthony Caro, Cristina García Rodero y Cindy Sherman, among others.
