Agustín Ibarrola facts for kids
Agustín Ibarrola (born August 18, 1930 – died November 17, 2023) was a famous Spanish artist. He was known for his paintings and sculptures. He created unique artworks that often combined nature with art.
Life and Art
Agustín Ibarrola was born in Basauri, a town in the Basque Country, Spain. In 1948, he received a special scholarship. This allowed him to study art in Madrid, where he lived until 1955.
Ibarrola showed his art in many exhibitions across Spain. In 1955, he moved to Paris, a city famous for its art. In 1957, he joined a group of artists called Equipment 57. This group included other artists like Duarte and Serrano. They were interested in a style of art called Constructivism. This style often used geometric shapes and industrial materials.
Because of his strong beliefs, Ibarrola was held in prison for several years. In 1963, his artwork was shown in London. An art critic there compared his powerful work to Goya's famous series, The Disasters of War.
Famous Works
In the 1980s, Ibarrola started creating sculptures. This led him to make one of his most famous works, the Oma Forest. This special forest is located near Guernica. In this project, Ibarrola painted many trees with bright colors. He created a beautiful mix of nature and art. This artwork is also known as "Ibarrola's forest."
Sadly, the original painted trees in Oma Forest got a fungal infection. Because of this, the artwork is now being moved. It is being relocated to a nearby area called Basobarri Forest.
Ibarrola's art often showed the spirit of the Basque people. It also reflected the lives of everyday workers. His style often leaned towards expressionism, which is an art movement where artists show their feelings and ideas through their work.
One of his last big projects was called Cubes of Memory. These were large, colorful cubes placed in the port of Llanes.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Ibarrola was involved with a group called ¡Basta Ya!. This group worked to fight against terrorism in the Basque Country. Ibarrola was very much against ETA, a group that was considered a terrorist organization by Spain. Because of his strong opposition, ETA threatened him.
Agustín Ibarrola received an important award. It was called the Medal of the Order of the Constitutional Merit. This award recognized his contributions to Spain.
Agustín Ibarrola passed away on November 17, 2023. He was 93 years old. His unique way of combining art with nature, especially his land art, made him a very special artist.
See also
In Spanish: Agustín Ibarrola para niños
