Biografia

Pilar Soberón García (San Sebastián 1971) lives in San Sebastián, and is an artist, creator and researcher in Nature, in the Picos de Europa and the Basque Country and teaches –associate lecturer– in the Department of Sculpture and Art and Technology, in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of the Basque Country. A graduate in Fine Arts specializing in Sculpture and Audiovisual Art, she received a Cum Laude Doctorate from the University of the Basque Country for her doctoral thesis, In-fluido (2016).

First prize in the New Artists Competition in Guipúzcoa 1995 and finalist in the XXXVI ABC Photography Prize at ARCO 2003, she has taken part in international fairs like MIA Milan Image Art Fair or ArteSantander. She has intervened in the public space at Wiesbaden Kunstsommer Festival 2014 (Germany). She has also collaborated with museum spaces like the Koldo Mitxelena Cultural Centre in San Sebastián or the Aquarium Museum in San Sebastián. A finalist in the Photíssima ArtPrize Venize 2015 she exhibited at the Chiostro dei Frari in Venice during the Biennale di Venezia 2015.
Her sculpture Aeolia´s Park forms part of the landscape and collection at the Kurpark in Wiesbaden, a site-specific creation, as is the work she created for the Koldo Mitxelena in the Ganbara Room in the Murgilketak. Viajes de Jung exhibition (2017). Her latest exhibitions include Alderanzteak (2018) at the Vanguardia gallery in Bilbao and the video-installation Uraldia (2019) at the Aquarium Museum – San Sebastián. In the Hodei putzua. Jardín vertical exhibition (2019) actions and land-art returned to the exhibition space at the Menchu Gal Museum in Irún. In 2019 she was awarded First Prize in the IV Askatasunarte International Art Competition, Irun; in 2019 was selected at  Pollensa Art Biennale, Julio Antonio Sculpture Prize in Tarragona and VII Vila de Santanyí Francisco Bernareggi Visual Arts Prize.  Her work is displayed in public art collections such as: Wiesbaden Kulturamt (Germany), Malaga Provincial Council, Guipúzcoa Provincial Council, Aquarium Museum in San Sebastian and Kutxa Foundation.

Academic training and other studies:
2017 Adjunct Professor at the Sculpture, Art and Technology Department of the Fine Arts Faculty at the University of the Basque Country, EHU-UPV.
2016 Doctor of Fine Arts, qualification of Excellent “cum laude”. Director: Saturnino Gutiérrez Barriuso. Sculpture Dept., Universidad del Pais Vasco, EHU-UPV.
2014 Course LES CLINICS, directed by Nekane Aramburu, with Piedad Solans, Javier Duero and Fernando Gómez de la Cuesta. Es Baluard, Museu d’Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma.
2003 PRINTS given by Baroja Collet, Escuela de Arte de Deba.
1999 Doctoral thesis project: IN-FLUIDO directed by Saturnino Barriuso.
Doctoral programme SCULPTURE AS PRACTICE AND LIMIT by Angel Bados.
1998 Training for teaching in the Basque language in Art. Universidad del País Vasco.
Doctoral programme SCULPTURE AS PRACTICE AND LIMIT Universidad del País Vasco, THE SCULPTURAL ACTIVITY by Saturnino Barriuso and ART AND REPRESENTATION by Angel Bados.
94-99 Workshop on artistic creation in Arteleku Art Center, San Sebastián: selected courses: “Picture cards and spinning tops“ by Eva Lootz, with Isao Hosoe; “There is always something happening: I Seminar of music and performance” by Gabriel Villota and Fito Rodriguez, guest artists: Esther Ferrer, Juan Hidalgo, Tom Johnsonand Marcel-lí Antúnez; “Building the days” by Pep Durán; “Interpasion Seminar”, by Juan Luis Moraza, with Gillo Dorfles;
1997 2nd speciality in FINE ARTS: AUDIOVISUAL, Universidad del País Vasco, EHU-UPV.
1994 Degree in FINE ARTS, Universidad del País Vasco: 1st speciality SCULPTURE, EHU-UPV.
Selected publications and texts:
2020 “Time, at the time of isolation”, AAVV. Napoli: ART 1307 Cultural Institution.
2019 “Hodei putzua. Jardín Vertical”, Text: Francisco Javier San Martín. Irun: Museo Menchu Gal, Irun City Hall. Uraldia, trascendencia líquida, “Conference Proceedings CIVAE 2019”. Madrid: MusicoGuia.
2017 “Pilar Soberón, Murgilketak. Viajes de Jung”. San Sebastián: Centro Cultural Koldo Mitxelena.
2015 “Tiempo entrópico Pilar Soberon. Obras 2012-2016”, Catalogue monographic. San Sebastián: Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.
2016 “IN-FLUIDO: Lo fluido como concepto y práctica artística”, PhD thesis, Director: Saturnino Gutiérrrez Barriuso. Leioa: Universidad del País Vasco.
2011 “Pilar Soberon ORO-GRAFIK”, Catalogue monographic. San Sebastián: Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.

Fellowships:
2020 PLASTIC ARTS GRANT in the area of Promotion and Dissemination, Publication Web. Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.
2019 PLASTIC ARTS GRANT in the area of Promotion and Dissemination, “Disertar”, awarded by Basque Institute Etxepare, Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.
2016 PLASTIC ARTS GRANT in the area of Promotion and Dissemination, “Tiempo entrópico” Publication, by Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.
2014 PLASTIC ARTS GRANT in the area of Promotion and Dissemination outside Basque area, Phylococcus in Napoli, by Basque Institute Etxepare. Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.
WIESBADEN KUNSTSOMMER 2014, PLASTIC ARTS GRANT Wiesbaden Kulturamt and IG Galerien, Wiesbaden. (Germany).
2012 PLASTIC ARTS GRANT in the area of Promotion and Dissemination outside Basque area, Microworlds MIA Milan art Fair, by Basque Institute Etxepare, Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.
2010 PLASTIC ARTS GRANT in the area of Promotion and Dissemination, Oro-Grafik Publication, awarded by Basque Institute Etxepare, Cultura y Política Lingüística Dept., Gobierno Vasco.
1994 ARTISTIC CREATION FELLOWSHIP in Sculpture, awarded by Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa.
Awards:
2019 1st Prize at the IV ASKATASUNARTE INTERNATIONAL ART COMPETITION, Museo Oiasso, Irun. Selected at BIENAL DÁRT MODERN. PREMIO JULIO ANTONIO DE ESCULTURA. Dip. Tarragona. Selected at 56. ED. CERTAMEN BIENNAL D’ART POLLENSA, Palma de Mallorca.
2015 Finalist at PHOTISSIMA ART PRIZE VENICE. Photissima Art Fair & Festival e l’Internazionale D’Arte LGBTE, Venice.
2003 Finalist at IV ABC Painting and Photography Competition. Madrid
2000 Selected at GURE ARTEA Prize organised by the Basque Government.
1998 Selected and acquisition, IV UNICAJA PLASTIC ARTS COMPETITION. Málaga.
1996 Selected at SCULPTURE COMPETITION PROMENADE OF ZUMAIA, (Gipuzkoa).
Selected at BIENAL D’ ART MODERN 1996, XXVIII PREMIO JULIO ANTONIO D’ ESCULTURA. Tarragona.
1996 Selected at ACQUISITION OF ARTISTIC HERITAGE 1995-96. EHU-UPV, University campus, Leioa. (Bizkaia).
1995 1st Prize for PLASTIC ARTS at the XXXVI COMPETITION FOR NEW ARTISTS of Gipuzkoa. San Sebastián.
1994 2nd Finalist in the COMPETITION FOR SCULPTURE PROJECTS. Lasarte-Oria (Gipuzkoa).
Solo-exhibitions in the last 10 years
2019 URALDIA. CONCIENCIA LÍQUIDA. Museo Aquarium San Sebastián.
HODEI PUTZUA. JARDÍN VERTICAL. Commissary Helena Elbusto. Menchu Gal Museum, Irun.
2018 ALDERANZTEAK. DISERTACIONES EN EL ESPACIO. Commissary Ana Salaberria. Vanguardia Gallery, Bilbao.
2017 MURGILKETAK. VIAJES DE JUNG. Commissary Ana Salaberria. Ganbara Exhibitions Hall KM, Koldo Mitxelena kulturunea, San Sebastián.
2015 AEOLIA’S PARK, Kurk Park (Park Strabe), Kulturamt Wiesbaden K.D.ö.R. (Germany).
2014 DISSOLUTIO, Exhibitions Hall Kutxa Boulevard, San Sebastián.
WIESBADEN 2014, Arteko Gallery, San Sebastián.
2012 CONTINIUM, Arteko Gallery, ARTESANTANDER 2012. International Art Contemporary Fair. Santander.
MICRO-WORLDS, Arteko Gallery, MIA Milan Image art Fair 2012, SuperstudiPiu, Milan.
ZUBITIK BARRENA, Urumea river, Festival Olatu-Talka-Rompeolas, San Sebastián City Hall.
2011 ORO.GRAFIK, Arteko Gallery, ARTESANTANDER 2011. International Art Contemporary Fair. Santander.
AIZERATU, Aiete Palace, Asoc. Cultural Goikogaltzara, San Sebastián City Hall.
2010 AEOLIA, Vanguardia Gallery, Bilbao.
PROZESU. Playa de La Concha, Festival Olatu Talka-Rompeolas, San Sebastián City Hall.
Selected group exhibitions (in the last 10 years)
2019 56. ED. CERTAMEN BIENNAL D’ART POLLENSA, Palma de Mallorca.
BIENAL DÁRT MODERN. PREMIO JULIO ANTONIO DE ESCULTURA. Museu D’Art Modern Tarragona.
IV ASKATUASUNARTE INTERNATIONAL ART PRIZE, Museo Oiasso, Irun.
VII PRIZE VILA DE SANTANYÍ FRANCISCO BERNAREGGI DE ARTES VISUALES, Santanyí, (Palma de Mallorca).
2016 PERFORMANCE-TAG, REALIDADES FLUIDAS I: CROSSING THE HOLE, Kunsthaus, Wiesbaden,
21 URTE- 21 ARTISTA, Windsor Kulturgintza Gallery, Bilbao and Sanz Enea Kulturunea, Zarautz, (Gipuzkoa).
2015 PHOTISSIMA ART PRIZE VENICE 2015, Photissima Art Fair e l’Internazionale d’Arte LGBTE Venice
PAISAIAREN MURMURIOA / CUANDO EL PAISAJE HABLA, Exhibitions Hall KMK Koldo Mitxelena, San Sebastián.
OBRAS DE ARTE CON HISTORIAS, Sala de Exposiciones Menchu Gal, Irun, (Gipuzkoa).
2014 METAILLUSIONI, Villa Di Donato, Institución Cultural Art 1307, Nápoles, (Italy).
KUNSTSOMMER FESTIVAL, BUILDING 9 BRIGE, Skulpturenparcours, Wiesbaden, (Germany).
ART-QUITECTURE, Colegio Oficial de arquitectos, Museu d’Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma
2013 LA INVISIBILIDAD DEL ROJO, Museo Cristobal Balenciaga, Getaria, Gipuzkoa.
UR ZURRUNBILOTSUAK, 2nd fase, Museo Aquarium San Sebastián.
I MARATON DE VIDEO MAV, Festival Miradas de Mujer, La casa encendida, Madrid.
EL HILO CONDUCTOR. Vanguardia Gallery, Bilbao.
2012 UR ZURRUNBILOTSUAK, AGUAS TURBULENTAS, EAUX AGITÈES, Museo Aquarium San Sebastián.
PROYECTO LB, Guillermina Caicoya Gallery, Oviedo. MASQUELIBROS Artist Book Fair. Escuelas Pías de San Fernando. Madrid.
2011 VANGUARDIA 25 YEARS, FROM H TO Z. Vanguardia Gallery, Bilbao.
2010 ARTS ATTACK, visual creators, Arteko Gallery. San Sebastián.
STATEMENT

Through my research and artistic creation in nature, mainly in the Picos Europa National Park Biosphere reserve, in a search for and observation of processes, events and discoveries of universal laws, a link is established between microscopic processes and the macrocosmos. Photography, videos, drawings, installations and performances in natural spaces form my creative work as a way of seeing and being in the world, as an observer-participant, becoming aware of the state that life aims for, and as a result, highlighting the preservation of the earth, water and all its living organisms, and animal and vegetable lives.