Ambit I Castillejo de Monteagudo | Murcia | Spain

'Ambit Gabarron Three Cultures Murcia'

On the occasion of the inauguration of the consolidation and restoration of the lower precinct of the Palace of Ibn Mardanis (known as 'King Wolf' of Xarq al-Andalus from 1147 to 1172 AD), Castillejo de Monteagudo, the City Council of Murcia and the Gabarron and Casa Pintada foundations join to celebrate the tenth edition of the International Artistic Event 'Ambit Gabarron, a creative journey across the five continents'.

The theme chosen for this tenth edition of 'Ambit' is the three major religious cultures that have historically coexisted in Murcia: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Our societies are living through turbulent times where religious, social, or cultural intolerance complicates peaceful coexistence. 'Ambit Gabarron Three Cultures aims to advocate through the arts': peace, solidarity, and respect for any thought, religion, or culture. For this reason, the plastic artist Cristobal Gabarron will carry out a live painting action (action painting) on a blank canvas measuring 3 meters high by 9 meters long, while other personalities and artists from various disciplines such as music, dance, theater, history, literature, thought, philosophy, photography, film, or poetry will spontaneously develop a performance and happening that will be documented by audiovisual media, creating a collective work among all participants free from any cultural barriers.

The setting for this artistic event will be the Castillejo de Monteagudo, also known as Qars Ibn Sa’d, located on a hill near the Castle of Monteagudo, rising 149 meters above sea level with stunning panoramic views of the Murcian orchard, the city of Murcia, and even the Sierra de Carrascoy. 'An artistic action for tolerance and coexistence of the three cultures from the respect and culture of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim peoples.'

A unique cultural experience that has already traveled through eight different countries and four continents since its inception in February 2022 and will be completed in 2025, to be exhibited jointly and globally as part of the Venice Biennale in 2026.

Official presentation act of the 10th Edition of 'Ambit five continents'

On Tuesday, October 15, the official presentation of the 10th Edition of 'Ambit Gabarron Three Cultures' took place, which will be held on November 16 at the Castillejo de Monteagudo, Murcia. An emblematic space, which after recent excavation, consolidation, and recovery work, will become a new cultural meeting point in the Region. The event was presided over by the Mayor of Murcia, Jose Ballesta, the artist Cristobal Gabarron; the councilor for District and Territorial Structuring, Marco Antonio Fernandez; the councilor for Culture and Identity Diego Aviles; and the president of the Gabarron Foundation, Cris Gabarron.
'Ambit Gabarron Three Cultures Murcia' will be an event that will bring together the three cultures that coexisted during the time of King Ibn Mardanis: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, recovering the spirit of coexistence and mutual enrichment of that time.

The event, curated by Juan G. Sandoval, will feature the innovative percussion group Perkilusionist; dancers Candela Leal Prieto, Andrea Carrion Garcia, and Daniel Garcia, directed by Sebastian Gomez-Lozano, will improvise a choreography in this exceptional setting in front of the walls of the historic monument Castillejo, along with trover performers Patricia Navarro and Emilio del Carmelo Tomas Loba.

The performance also includes appearances by poet Carlos Aganzo, renowned DJ and music critic Miguel Tebar (M. Lacroix), and rhapsode Joan Fabrellas, who will recite poems on the three cultures; photographer Damian Lajara; audiovisual creator Jose Antonio Velez; and as the producer and director of the documentary, Juan Alfonso Moreno.

Science will be a key part of the event, as during Gabarron's artistic creation, a modern device called Mindtooth will be used. This headset, equipped with sensors, will record the artist's brain activity—such as concentration, attention, and emotion—in real time. This scientific monitoring will be provided by Maria Trinidad Herrero, Professor of Medicine at the University of Murcia, lead researcher of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience (NiCE), director of the Institute of Aging at the University of Murcia, and a member of the Royal National Academy of Medicine, in collaboration with IMIB (Murcian Institute of Biomedical Research).

In the field of archaeology, archaeologists Carmen Martinez Salvador and Pilar Vallalta, responsible for the restoration and consolidation project of Castillejo de Monteagudo, will also participate in this event.

Art and science come together by artist Cristobal Gabarron and scientist Maria Trinidad Herrero

While the artist Cristobal Gabarron, who has volunteered to collaborate in this innovative research, paints, a state-of-the-art device will record his brain activity. This device, called “Mindtooth,” is a helmet equipped with high-precision sensors that Gabarron will wear, allowing a scientific record of all his mental activity throughout the creation of the mural. This record covers aspects such as concentration, attention and emotion, among others.

Developed in the NiCE laboratory at the University of Murcia, the device will capture the artist's emotions and mental states, transforming the activity of his mind into a kind of “cerebral self-portrait” composed of shapes and colors. Thus, the event will not only result in a physical mural, but also in a visual and sound representation of Gabarron's inner world as he creates.

This fusion between art and science seeks to explore more deeply the human brain in its creative dimension, opening a window to the link between both disciplines. Thanks to the artistic talent of Cristobal Gabarron and the scientific direction of Maria Trinidad Herrero, Professor of Medicine at the University of Murcia and principal investigator of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience (NiCE), as well as director of the Institute of Aging of the same university and member of the Royal National Academy of Medicine, this project also has the support of the IMIB (Murcian Institute of Biosanitary Research). Herrero leads the project together with her team, made up of Maria Itati Palacio, Giovanna Filiberto, Emiliano Fernandez Villalba, Ana Gonzalez Cuello, Samildes Magalhaes and Maria Teresa Pellicer Jorda, who are working on deepening knowledge about the human brain in its most creative and emotional facets.

Final Work: 'Three Echoes. One Story'

The resulting work, under the title ‘Three Echoes. One Story’, is like a sigh of freedom that invites us to breathe in new environments and discover new horizons. The universal creator, during the action painting process, developed three large spheres corresponding to three cultures, which also align with the three primary colors (yellow, red, and blue). The spheres were connected to the three cultures and the strengths of the Wolf King: Monteagudo Castle, the fortified palace of Ibn Mardanis, and the Castle of Larache, representing a skyline of the landscape. In the composition, moments alluding to the dance, music, and poetry of Ibn Arabi were captured, as well as references to poets from the three cultures that have shaped the Mediterranean (Muslim, Christian, and Jewish). The work highlights Cristobal Gabarron's ability to render the invisibility of the four elements and the memory of the territory, giving them form through matter, movement, and color. This resulted in a final composition that narrates a symbolic landscape while reflecting the nature surrounding the Palace of Ibn Mardanis.

PROJECT PROMOTER

CRISTOBAL GABARRON

Cristobal Gabarron, 1945. Mula (Murcia). He is an essential creator in the Spanish artistic scene of our time and a great international figure. He has managed to forge his own style that encompasses multiple artistic disciplines. Committed to culture and thought, Gabarron's work, whether in the intimacy of his studio or in his large public installations, is centered on his interest in humanism, in the life of people in harmony with their natural environment, in their peaceful coexistence and the development of human values.

His work has also been the focus of analysis in retrospectives such as those dedicated by the Chelsea Art Museum, the IVAM, the Gdansk Museum of Modern Art in Poland, the National Art Museum of China in Shanghai, or the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Art - Patio Herreriano, to analyze his creations. In all of them, critics and historians of the stature of Donald Kuspit, curator and professor at New York University, Kosme de Barañano, curator and professor at the University of Miguel Hernandez University in Elche, Miguel Angel Zalama, professor at the University of Valladolid or Antón Castro, professor at the University of Pontevedra have proceeded to carry out careful analyses and studies of his professional career of more than 60 years, collected in the abundant bibliography that has appeared in recent years.

Since 1992, with the aim of giving back to society what it has given him, Gabarron has promoted and participated in the progressive creation of different foundations in Europe, the United States and Asia, whose mission is to promote art, culture, education and creativity research, through a wide variety of projects and activities, including exhibitions, educational workshops, conferences and academic programs. Through these initiatives, Cristobal Gabarron seeks to inspire new generations, promote intercultural dialogue and contribute to the development of a more creative society, raising awareness through the arts, education and culture.

Gabarron assumes the philosophy of his geographical nomadism after living and working in different parts of the world that in its multiplicity assumes the conscience of the painter or sculptor or creator of installations in large spaces. He currently works in the solitude of his studios where he lives, in Bueu and Valladolid.

 Photo credits: Marcial Guillen

CURATOR

Juan García Sandoval (1968 - Murcia/España)

Art, Museology, criticism, inclusion and exhibition curator. 

Director-Conservator of the Museum of Fine Arts of Murcia (2008-2014 and 2020-present). Artistic Director of the Regional Museum of Modern Art, Cartagena (2015-2020). Full Academician of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Santa María de la Arrixaca of Murcia since 2024. Curator of Museums of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia since 2008. He holds a degree in Art History from the University of Murcia, a Master in Didactic Museography from the University of Barcelona, and a Master in Creative Therapies from the University of Murcia.

He has directed and curated museum projects, temporary exhibitions and musealization of archaeological sites. He has been a juror in national and international Plastic Arts competitions. Director, coordinator and organizer of conferences, courses and seminars, member of scientific committees in the field of Art, Museums, Cultural Heritage and Accessibility. Among his contributions, he has curated and coordinated several temporary exhibitions, including dozens of projects with Spanish artists.

ARTISTS PARTICIPATING IN THE 10TH EDITION OF 'AMBIT'.

Carlos Aganzo

Carlos Aganzo (Madrid, 1963) is the author of around twenty poetry collections, some of which have been recognized with awards such as the Jaime Gil de Biedma and Ciudad de Salamanca prizes. His essential poetry is collected in the volumes Ícaro en los ojos and Arde el tiempo. He is also the author of various essays and travel books, as well as numerous collaborations with musicians and visual artists. He is a founding member of the Premio de la Crítica de Castilla y León and literary coordinator of the international poetry awards San Juan de la Cruz and José Zorrilla, in addition to being a member of the Academy of Poetry of San Juan de la Cruz de Fontiveros. His body of work has been recognized with the Premio de las Letras Teresa de Ávila. As a journalist, he has been a literary critic, head of the Culture section, and deputy director of the newspaper Ya; director of the film magazine Interfilms, and of the newspapers La Voz de Huelva, Diario de Ávila, and El Norte de Castilla.

Joan Fabrellas (Elche/Elx, 1964)

He holds a degree in Philosophy and Letters, specializing in Hispanic Philology, from the University of Alicante, and in Dramatic Arts from the Higher School of Dramatic Arts of Valencia. He also has a Master's in Cultural Management from the University of Alcalá de Henares.

A professional actor with the companies La Carátula, La Tarumba, Concorde, La Carreta, Maracaibo, Siete Glorias, Clasica de Comedias, and Arizona Teatro, he has directed around twenty productions and written theatrical works such as El gorrion y el poeta, El hechizo del dragón, and Pandemonium, among others, as well as numerous adaptations and dramaturgies.

He currently develops his professional activity with the company La Carreta Teatro in the performances El hechizo del dragón and Dolphin y el mar de plástico, and with Arizona Teatro in ¿Quién teme? (a Virginia Woolf).

He frequently performs poetry recitals of both classical and contemporary authors, in both Spanish and Catalan, and is currently performing the shows Miguel Hernández, with pianist Manuel Ramos and singer Oriana Quintero, and EstellEs meravellos, a tribute to the Valencian poet Vicent Andrés Estelles on the occasion of his centenary.

https://lacarretateatro.com/

https://arizonateatro.com/

José Antonio Vélez

Jose Antonio Velez, founder of Producciones Vélez, is a videographer and visual artist recognized for his ability to capture the essence of every story and convey it with authenticity in each of his projects. His personal brand, Producciones Vélez, has become a benchmark in the industry, known for its artistic approach and meticulous attention to detail.

In addition to his work in events, José Antonio has collaborated on advertising projects and, in particular, within the realms of culture and art. In these cultural and artistic projects, he explores deep narratives, capturing the essence of each work, space, or artistic intervention with a sensitivity that connects the viewer to the work itself.

https://www.produccionesvelez.es/

José Damián Lajara Lucas  (1952, Abanilla)

Jose Damian Lajara Lucas (Abanilla, 1952), photographer and television producer, has created a unique style in pinhole photography and caffenol development, alternative and sustainable techniques that have established him as a key figure in Spain.

His career, developed in the fields of fashion, culture, and science, allowed him to publish his own magazine, Bigudí, and capture iconic figures in his images such as Alaska, Isabel Pantoja, and Plácido Domingo, among others. He has also collaborated with widely circulated magazines like El Mueble and Caravaning, where his style in portraits and editorial photography has been widely recognized.

As an audiovisual producer, Lajara has demonstrated notable versatility. He has directed cultural and scientific programs like Debate al 50, covering topics such as health, gastronomy, and culture, and has worked on music videos and short films for major record labels and film festivals, integrating both artistic and documentary approaches.

He has also exhibited on architectural, historical, and female leadership topics in various Spanish cities. His innovative approach and interest in experimental techniques place him at the forefront of contemporary photography and visual culture.

Miguel Tebar - Michele Lacroix

Michele Lacroix is the pseudonym of Miguel Tebar A., a renowned music specialist, who started as a precocious DJ. He began in the mid-1980s in Murcia, sharing DJ booths at popular bars such as Bache, Qué?, Torreta 5, B12, and Pachá (1986-1992), as well as clubs like Los Claveles and Mondo Difficile (1993-2002). Voluntarily stepping away from the monotonous nightlife, for over thirty years he has focused on his professional career as a communicator, collaborating with various mass media outlets and specialized and independent media on both national and global levels, while also leading cultural projects at La Lanzadera.

In the early 2010s, he decided to selectively revisit one of his passions, transforming into a conceptual DJ to perform his unpredictable and improvised "Sesiones Ad Hoc," which are never recorded. When M. Lacroix is interested in a project, he quickly comes up with a themed music session. After researching, he dives into his record collection and starts crafting a bespoke experience, always considering the enjoyment of the largest possible audience. Confident that he can offer something optimal, he waits for the right moment for it to come to life. Through an endless palette of sounds, he always creates unique moments with atypical and attractive selections, designed to satisfy a diverse audience. Fun, carefree, timeless, eclectic, and distinctive are fitting adjectives to describe his "tailored creations."

https://migueltebar.com 

Patricia Navarro

23 years old, she is currently the only female trovera in the city of Murcia.

Trovo became her way of overcoming the shyness of her childhood. Since birth, she has been deeply connected to the customs of the Murcia countryside, actively participating in numerous traditional activities and movements, primarily with the Peñas Huertanas of the Region of Murcia.

Patricia Navarro began troving at a young age in a more intimate and family-oriented setting. At 15, she first took to the stage, starting to improvise in front of an audience while balancing her artistic activities with her academic education.

She has won the national Trovo contest 'Pascual Garcia Mateos' for two consecutive years at the International Cante de las Minas Festival (La Union). In 2021, she became the first female trovera to win this competition, and won again the following year.

'La Trovera' has shared the stage with improvisers and poets from Colombia, Panama, Chile, and the Canary Islands at international improvised poetry festivals such as 'Trovalia', a festival in Cartagena that gathers the best repentistas (improvisers) from around the world each year. In recent months, she has also participated in the International Festival of Poets' Song at Villanueva de Tapia, in Málaga province.

Currently, Patricia combines her passion for trovo with her vocation for teaching. She conducts Trovo workshops at schools in the Region of Murcia for primary and secondary education students to continue spreading the region's traditions.

She has recently joined the Universidad Popular de Lorca as a professor, teaching Trovo classes to enthusiasts of all ages in the Guadalentín region.

Her main goal is to introduce the world of Trovo to younger generations in a didactic and engaging way, believing that it is the responsibility of young people to preserve such cultural expressions over time.

Emilio del Carmelo Tomás Loba

Trovero, auroro, cuadrillero, and traditional musician. Professor at IES Juan Carlos I in Murcia and at the Aula Sénior of the University of Murcia. He holds a PhD from UMU with a thesis on Trovo in the Region of Murcia. He was a student of Trovo from Manuel Cárceles El Patiñero. Member of the Asociación Trovera José María Marín in La Palma (Cartagena) and part of the coordination of the International Festival of Improvised Oral Poetry of Cartagena (Trovalia). Member of the Asociación Trovera de Lorca and director of the Lorquina School of Trovo at the Universidad Popular de Lorca. Founder of the Mujeres Troveras group. Founder of the Trovo Cuadrillero project. Co-founder with rapper Tolo Ortógrafo of the Trovo and Rap project: musical tradition and poetic modernity. He has been a finalist three times and champion once of the Pascual García Mateos Trovo contest in La Union.

Perkilusionist

Perkilusionist is the name of a chamber music ensemble composed of three percussionists from the Region of Murcia, united by friendship and a shared ambition to offer various aspects of percussion and its fusion in different performance formats.

Since its formation in 2021 with the show "Percussion for the Senses," they have evolved by seeking new formats and sounds to bring music and percussion to all kinds of audiences, regardless of age, abilities, social class, or cultural level.

Their repertoire includes both classical and contemporary works by great composers, as well as original compositions exploring genres such as flamenco, jazz, and ethnic music from around the world. Due to their commitment to environmental sustainability, they created the Reciklusion School and Reciklusion 2.0 shows, entirely performed using recycled and reused instruments to raise environmental awareness.

They have performed throughout Murcia, Alicante, and Andalusia, with highlights including their participation in the "Essentia" International Arts and Senses Festival, the "En Escalera" Festival, and the Estrenarte Festival, among others. Notably, they won 2nd place in the "XV National Chamber Music Contest" in Albox and toured with their show "Percussion for the Senses" in 2022.

The members—Javier Vidal, Alejandro Ballesta, and Modesto Abenza—combine their performance careers with teaching positions in conservatories and music schools across the Region of Murcia.

https://perkilusionist.com/

Sebastián Gomez-Lozano (Director de danza)

Sebastián Gomez-Lozano has played a key role in the promotion and development of contemporary dance within the Spanish university system. He was the coordinator of the first National University Dance Days (UNIDANZA) in 2004, 2005, and 2006. He also directed the Master's degree in Dance and Arts of Movement from 2007 to 2016 and the postgraduate program in Flamenco at the UCAM's Chair of Flamencology from 2017 to 2019.

Sebastián holds a PhD with European Mention in classical dance and Spanish dance from the University of Murcia (2007) and is a Doctor of Arts from the University of Extremadura (2024), with research focusing on Contact Improvisation and its relationship with somatic martial arts such as aikido, taijiquan, and kinomichi. Since 2001, he has been a teacher and researcher at the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, where he has led the Performing Arts Research Group since 2007.

Candela Leal

Candela Leal, born in Murcia, began her contemporary dance training at the Professional Dance Conservatory of Murcia and later graduated from the Higher Dance Conservatory of Valencia Nacho Duato, where she further developed her skills as a choreographer and performer. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various dance companies and participated in prominent festivals such as Dansa València, the Festival 10 Sentidos, and Migrats.

Her experience encompasses classical, contemporary, and modern dance techniques, as well as strong training in choreography, improvisation, and composition. In her final year of studies, she joined the Portuguese company ITZ-Intranzyt, where she played a key role in various productions, contributing her talent and dedication to the company's artistic development.

Andrea  Carrion

Andrea, originally from Murcia, Spain, began her artistic career in theater, gaining professional experience with the Teatro 0 company in Murcia. Later, she discovered dance and became deeply passionate about the expressive and physical power of movement. This led her to train at the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Murcia, the EBCD in Valencia, and the EDCM in Montreal. Awarded the Alfonso X Patronage Prize, the CREAMURCIA 2021, and recognized at the WE: NOW festival and the 10th edition of the Tiempo de Danza Competition, Andrea has also been granted scholarships by Cía. Tejido Conectivo, Cía. La Coja Dansa, OD, and Leviathan Studio in Lasqueti, Canada. She has presented her choreographic work at festivals in Canada, New York, and Spain. Notable projects include Little M, by Anders Duckworth and The Place in London, and Perpetuum Mobile, by Damiano Ottavio Biggi, dancer of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch. Currently, Andrea resides in Madrid, maintaining a strong connection to Murcia. She works with Checho Tamayo and Ángela Carbajo on projects supported by Teatros del Canal, in addition to collaborating with Cía. Ferroviaria.

https://andreacarriongarcia.com/

Daniel Garcia

Daniel Garcia, a native of Murcia, graduated from the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Murcia and is currently in his final year at the Conservatorio Superior de Danza de Madrid. He has dedicated his life to integrating dance into his own body, focusing on contemporary style from a young age. His training was enriched by a year of studies abroad in Antwerp, Belgium, where he explored the work of renowned choreographers such as Anton Lachky and Agostina D'Alessandro. Upon returning to Madrid, he continued his development as a performer and choreographer, collaborating with prominent creators like Antonio Ruz and the Hurycan company, participating in performances both nationally and internationally.