The current development of art moves along paths increasingly connected with technology and digital language. Although in the beginning, the virtual works had been to a certain extent unconsidered, because they seem to play down the importance of the authors who execute their pieces with their own hands; these forms of expression have followed a constant evolution to position themselves in their place, where they deserve the same respect and admiration as traditional disciplines.

teamLab, “Black Waves: Lost, Immersed and Reborn”, 2019. Digital Installation, Continuous Loop, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi. ©teamLab, courtesy Pace Gallery.

One of the main differences offered by digital works is their ability to create parallel realities in an immersive way. Their power transcends mere evocation since they overcome the mind of the spectator, who does not have to imagine the things suggested to him, but he is involved in them actively and directly. The connection of these pieces with the moving image is understood today as a natural outlet... because the movement is precisely what the traditional branches of art cannot capture.

In this path, the work of teamLab, an artistic collective composed of numerous professionals from different specialities, who unite their energy and knowledge to create impressive digital immersive pieces, is deployed. Their own work system is based on the philosophy they want to convey in their works. It is about pooling the effort of all, seeking complementarity and joint action, giving rise to artworks that flow, that explore for themselves a balance in the elements, a harmony in the exteriorisation of an idea as simple as complex.

teamLab, “Flutter of Butterflies Beyond Borders, Ephemeral Life born in Au-delà des limites”, 2018, installation in La Villette, Paris. © teamLab, courtesy Pace Gallery.

This group, founded in Tokyo in 2001, prefers to reinforce the collective work and reject the traditional concept of authorship in the art to focus its efforts on the production of works. Its pieces have already been exhibited in numerous capitals of the world and are part of important collections.

While searching for putting together nature, technology, science and art, teamLab's work explores the possibilities of digital recreation of natural elements taken on a large scale to involve the viewer in an experience that transcends and brings it to another place. Its digital creations are often interactive and change in a constant cyclic movement that evolves according to the elements that appear in the scene. The result is an artistic-digital experience that reacts to the visitor, in a non-verbal dialogue that invites us to reflect on our environmental impact, the interaction with living beings and the need to feel a vital connection with nature.

teamLab, “Enso - Cold Light”, 2018, Digital Installation, Continuous Loop. ©teamLab, courtesy Pace Gallery.

The Espacio Fundación Telefónica exhibits three works of this collective to offer an unforgettable experience to the visitor. "Black Waves: Lost, Immersed and Reborn", "Flutter of Butterflies, Born from Hands" and "Enso - Cold Light" unfold on the walls of the showing-room to wrap, in a dark atmosphere with quiet music, the fascinated gaze of the spectator. Everything changes in the constant oscillation of the water and the waves of a rough, but peaceful sea.

At the most recent edition of Art Madrid, artist Luis Olaso (Bilbao, 1986), represented by Kur Art Gallery (San Sebastián), received the Residency Prize of the Art Madrid Patronage Program. This award, the result of a collaboration between Art Madrid, DOM Art Residence, and the Italian association ExtrArtis, enabled him to undertake an artistic residency in Sorrento (Italy) in August 2025.

Through initiatives like this, the fair reaffirms its support for contemporary creation—a commitment aimed at increasing artists’ visibility and strengthening art collecting through concrete actions such as acquisition prizes, recognition of emerging talents, and international residencies.

Artists in Residence. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.

The DOM & ExtrArtis 2025 Residency Program took place in Sorrento from August 1 to 31, 2025. The artists lived together at Relais La Rupe, a 16th-century villa surrounded by cliffs and centuries-old gardens, which became an ideal setting for experimentation and exchange.

In this edition, residents worked around the theme “Reimagining Genius Loci”, an invitation to reflect on how the movement of people and traditions transforms the “spirit of place.” During the residency, DOM organized two public group exhibitions: the first to present the artists’ previous work, and the second to showcase the projects developed in Sorrento.

Work by Luis Olaso. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.

Luis Olaso’s work moves between expressionist figuration and abstraction, always employing a pictorial language charged with strength and emotion. Initially self-taught, he later graduated in Fine Arts and has developed a solid international career, with exhibitions at venues including JD Malat (London) and Makasiini Contemporary (Turku, Finland), and participation in fairs such as Untitled Miami, Estampa, and Art Madrid itself.

His work is part of prestigious collections, including the Tokyo Contemporary Art Foundation, Fundación SIMCO, and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, and has been recognized in competitions such as the Reina Sofía Prize for Painting and Sculpture and the Ibercaja Young Painting Prize.

In Sorrento, Olaso found a unique context to expand his pictorial research, engaging in dialogue with the Mediterranean landscape and the region’s historical heritage. The residency provided him with time, resources, and a framework for exchange with other international artists, fostering the production of new works that were later presented in the group exhibitions organized by DOM.

Luis Olaso working on his project. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of DOM.

Luis Olaso’s experience at DOM Art Residence concluded with a public showcase of the works produced, reinforcing his presence on the international circuit and consolidating his position as one of the most prominent Basque artists on the contemporary scene.

Through initiatives such as this, Art Madrid demonstrates its active role as a platform for direct support of contemporary creation, creating opportunities for research, production, and intercultural dialogue that extend beyond the fair itself and accompany artists in their professional development.