Art Madrid'26 – Igansi Aballi, retrospective in Reina Sofía Museum

 

 

On October 28 opens, in the museum Reina Sofia, Sin principio / sin fin (Without beginning / without end), a route through the artistic work of Ignasi Aballí (Barcelona, 1958), one of the greatest exponents of conceptual art in our country, with several works never seen before and specially designed for the museum spaces.

 

 

 

Since his early years, Aballí creates to challenge the viewer's attention and tests the power and influence of images using texts, files and documents as tools and as excuses to blow up the meanings, conventions and prejudices. Thus, the invention and reorganization of texts (as the Dada), the appreciation of the materials and processes of creation, the presence and absence, the appropriation and contextualization of images are constant in his work, a job eminently critical with the society in which it develops and which he himself has said it is saturated with images and devoid of meaning.

 

 

Lo oculto, la desaparición... en Biblioteca, de Ignasi Aballí en museo Reina Sofía.

 

 

The exhibition (Without beginning / without end), directs our thoughts to the alleged uselessness of art, and offers a journey through the aesthetic ideas of the artist who questions the very representation of the artwork and asks himself - using paint, sculpture, collage, photography, video, and unorthodox materials (dust, rust, cuts ...) - about the system of conventions on the representation of the work of art, life and art in the contemporary world.

 

 

Repeticiones, listados, catalogación de palabras... en Mapamundi, de Ignasi Aballí en Museo Reina Sofía.

 

 

Within the his "work objects", Aballí includes the analysis of language and, in particular, the relationship between text and image, and the dichotomy between presence and absence (which works with concepts like disappearance, transparency, invisibility and illegibility) . And we must emphasize its desire cataloger and collector, inventories, tireless repetition and inventories - Basic Terminologies color series, Listings, Mapamundi - all made between 1998 and 2015, that have no other purpose than make us see, paradoxically, the difference between things.

 

 



Did you feel like seeing more? Or would you simply like to come back? The 360º Virtual Tour of Art Madrid’26 is now available, allowing you to explore the entire fair from anywhere, at any time.

Stroll through each stand, pause in front of the works that interest you most, and rediscover those spaces you can only truly appreciate when you have all the time in the world. No rush—just the same light and atmosphere that made this edition so special.

To bring this immersive experience to life, we once again collaborated with Coke Riera Studio and Panotour technology. The result: over 4,000 photographs captured at key points throughout the fair, transformed into a high-quality interactive experience where every detail of each artwork is within reach of your screen.


We’re delighted to continue bringing contemporary art closer to everyone in this way. Now it’s your turn: EXPLORE IT and SHARE IT with anyone you think will enjoy it as much as you do.

There’s no better time to experience Art Madrid’26—whenever you want, wherever you are.