MÓN DOTZE (World Twelve)
a installation for the history and the landscape
Víctor Mata i Ventura
DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY
Laguna Prize
Barcelona, 23rd july 2020
1. Presentation and context
At the request of the management of Món Sant Benet, one of the cultural complexes managed by the Fundació Catalunya - La Pedrera (https://www.fundaciocatalunya-lapedrera.com/es), I present a work of ephemeral character designed to be executed in an environment near the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages (Sant Fruitós de Bages, Barcelona). The installation Món Dotze (World Twelve) refers to the history of the Monastery and the surrounding landscape. The place where it is located, a large lawn meadow next to the Llobregat River, has a formidable landscape perspective from all angles. The magnificence of space has suggested the realization of a large structure.
Món Sant Benet is a cultural complex built within the scope of the Benedictine monastery, one of the best preserved medieval monastic ensembles in Catalonia, open to enjoyment and knowledge of citizenship. In a participatory context open to the public Món Dotze highlights the social, cultural, natural, landscape and heritage values of which Món Sant Benet participates. The installation is conceived for everyone who wants to collaborate on its execution. That is why it has to be understood as a socializing and integrative element because of its participatory character.
2. Concept and symbolism
Món Dotze refers to the history of the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages founded in the middle of the 10th century. It is part of the work that I group in the work program that I call Architecture and Landscape, referring to the architectural materiality, the landscape and the cultural tradition of the territory where they are located.
It links with the idea expressed by Món Sant Benet to value the cultural space that surrounds the Monastery. It is designed and carried out in a large grass meadow located between the Monastery and the cultural complex. It is characterized by the social and participatory function that promotes its historical conceptualization. Its existence creates a reason for visiting and attracting the days of open doors.
Món Dotze (World Twelve) refers to the historical and cultural route of twelve centuries of existence of the Monastery of Sant Benet de Bages and the functions it has developed throughout its existence as a monastic enclosure, feudal entity, farm, summer house and cultural center. In this sense, the monastery is shown as a symbol of durability, government, sociability, knowledge and culture. Each of the twelve circumferences that make up Món Dotze symbolizes a century of history of the monastery (X-XXI centuries), the whole recreates the historical process, the experiences and events that have happened. The circumferences were filled with bright yellow mulberry leaves, collected one by one from the garden that planted the family of the modernist painter Ramon Casas, owner of the monastery. They arranged around each other forming a large circle that gives meaning to the historical concept.
3. Complementary activities
- Near the area of Món Dotze, while the intervention was being carried out, a sample of books related to nature, land art, landscape and rural heritage was set up.
- An exhibition was located inside the Món Sant Benet building. Espais d'art. Nautre, culture and lanscape, created by the Land Art Associació Catalunya and the Serra de Collserola Natural Park. It is a set of images and texts about some of the most significant works of Víctor Mata. The exhibition helps to understand what land art is.
4. Data sheet
Denomination: MÓN DOTZE (WORLD TWELVE)
Typology: Memory and culture
Material: 4 m3 mulberry leaves.
Author: Victor Mata Ventura.
Execution: Víctor Mata, Júlia Mata Riera, Land Art Associació Catalunya
Disposition: twelve circumference structure of various sizes
Dimension: total diameter 20 m, diameter of the circumferences: 2 to 5 m
Reason: commissioned Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera (Món Sant Benet).
Chronology: November, 2017.
Location: enclosure of the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages (Sant Fruitós de Bages, Bages, Barcelona).
Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_bn218bb5w
https://www.facebook.com/Land-Art-Associaci%C3%B3-Catalunya
Instagram victormataventura
www.victormataventura.com
Víctor Mata i Ventura
Barcelona, 23rd july 2020
