Poetry in Objects: Exploring Chema Madoz and Joan Brossa

Barcelona 2025

From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Reflections on Juegos Reunidos

What I love about big cities is their abundance of everything. Even though I don’t consider cities an ideal place to live, having one nearby is invaluable. Barcelona, less than an hour from my home, has everything I need from a city, especially when it comes to art. Its galleries and exhibitions featuring world-renowned artists offer a chance to experience creativity firsthand. This dichotomy of loving and not loving cities at the same time feels like a precursor to my own creativity—a tension that sparks ideas.

A Dialogue Between Artists. Poetry in Objects

Before attending the inauguration of Juegos Reunidos at Prats Nogueras Blanchard, I hadn’t heard of Joan Brossa. But Chema Madoz was a name I knew well—his work inspired me to study art photography in my early twenties. When I saw that his photographs were part of the exhibition, attending became a must.

What I didn’t expect was how seamlessly these two artists would complement each other. The dialogue between their works felt natural, creating an immersive experience that highlighted their shared approach to creativity.

An artwork by Chema Madoz next to a piece by Joan Brossa, displayed on a minimalist black wall

Chema Madoz’s glove holding a key, symbolizing hidden stories within everyday items.

A series of Chema Madoz's black-and-white photographs, blending the familiar and surreal.

Joan Brossa's 'Ball Dice' sculpture, a playful reinterpretation of dice in the form of a ball

Chema Madoz’s poetic transformation of objects, showcasing a high heel merging with a pipe.

Joan Brossa’s surreal objects, including a plate with cutlery, an egg, challenging form and function

Transformation Through Simplicity

For me, the principle of “less is more” defines Chema Madoz’s art and is key to understanding the technique of “defamiliarization,” where familiar objects are presented in unexpected ways. This approach makes his work both profound and accessible, turning ordinary items into extraordinary artistic statements crerating a feelinf of rthe Poetry in Objects .

Discovering Joan Brossa

At first glance, I personally find Joan Brossa’s visual poems to be simple—sometimes even ordinary—but they possess a surreal touch that transforms them into something unique and thought-provoking.

One piece that struck me was the soap with a fingerprint, which felt like a metaphor for how even the simplest things carry a personal, human story. Another, the ball dice, played with the boundaries of form and function, prompting me to think about how we define objects and their purposes. Together, these works challenge the viewer to see beyond the surface and explore their own interpretations.

Moving between Madoz’s poetic photography and Brossa’s tangible poem-objects felt like navigating a perfect balance of minimalism and surrealism. The surrealist feeling deepened as I moved from one work to another, experiencing two distinct yet complementary artistic languages.

Reflections on Art and Creativity

The analogical approach of both Brossa and Madoz stirred thoughts that had been out of my reach, almost invisible to me. Their works reminded me of the power of simplicity—how stepping back from the ordinary can reveal new perspectives and help us see the beauty in everyday life.

Once again, I found myself reflecting on how the most impactful art is often the simplest. A single word, object, or brushstroke can tell an entire story. Art isn’t about imposing an artist’s emotions or ideas—it’s about inviting the viewer to think, feel, and create their own analogies.

It’s curious how this exhibition and Bestiari, the one I visited previously, led me to similar conclusions despite their differences.

An Invitation to Play

If you’re familiar with Chema Madoz’s art, I’m confident you’ll find Joan Brossa’s work equally captivating. And if you happen to be in Barcelona in January 2025, I highly recommend visiting the Juegos Reunidos exhibition at Prats Nogueras Blanchard.

This event has also inspired me to experiment further with analogies and playfulness in my art. I want to explore how to guide viewers to create their own connections—where clouds might become waves or forests transform into beaches, depending on their perspective.

Interestingly, these reflections connect closely to ideas I’ve shared in earlier posts, like Capturing the Mystique: Using Cloudy Landscapes for Black and White Interior Decor and Is it a Castle Perched on a Rock or a Fortress Floating in the Clouds?. The themes of perception, transformation, and simplicity remain central to my creative journey.