X Biennial of Contemporary Art of the ONCE Foundation

Description

10th ONCE Foundation Biennial of Contemporary Art
The Charm of Illusion: A Bridge Between Reality and Perception

CentroCentro is hosting the 10th edition of the Biennial of Contemporary Art Fundación ONCE, a celebration of two decades of commitment to creation, accessibility and inclusion. This time, the central theme—illusion—becomes the common thread for a reflection on how we perceive, construct and transform reality through art.

In this context, ‘illusion’ is understood not as mere deception, but as a creative force, capturing the double meaning of the Spanish word ilusión as both a sensory perception and a feeling of hopeful enthusiasm. It is a critical, sensory and poetic tool that opens up realms of possibility. From its etymological roots to its presence in philosophical thought, it reveals itself as an arena where perception, truth and aesthetic experience converge.

The exhibition brings together more than 30 artists from diverse backgrounds, with and without disabilities, reaffirming the ONCE Foundation’s role as a driver of cultural inclusion. Works such as ILUSIÓN (ILLUSION / HOPE) by BoaMistura—created alongside employees of the ONCE Foundation—symbolise the collective excitement and community spirit of this edition, while pieces such as Mirada (Gaze) by Daniel Canogar, or works by Paloma Navares, Cristina García Rodero, Joan Fontcuberta, Carlos Garaicoa, Marina Vargas and Isidro López Aparicio, spark a conversation on memory, truth and representation.

The Biennial also includes a core group of artists linked to the supported art studio Debajo del Sombrero and other inclusive creative projects, as well as creators who have participated in previous editions. Their art—from the graphic universes of Jaime Martínez Alonso to the metamorphoses of José Manuel Egea and the textile sensitivity of Marina Solana—shows how ilusión allows us to inhabit reality, order experience and build our own worlds from a position of aesthetic and functional diversity.

The 10th Biennial of Contemporary Art above all, an invitation to take another look: to discover how art transforms this sense of hope and perception into a space for encounter, reflection and a shared future, reaffirming that creativity and inclusion are forces capable of building a more plural and sensitive world.