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Artist Alida Torbay presents Caminante, an immersive exhibition at the Cervantes Institute in Beirut that explores the essence of existence through a captivating visual and sensory odyssey.
Like a lighthouse in the night, the Cervantes Institute in Beirut illuminates the art scene with Caminante, an enchanting exhibition by Venezuelan-Lebanese artist Alida Torbay. Inspired by Antonio Machado’s eponymous poem, this sculptural odyssey invites us to follow in the artist’s footsteps on an introspective journey into the heart of human nature.
Upon entering, a bronze sculpture named Caminante welcomes visitors, surrounded by six resin replicas representing giant steps. This staging eloquently symbolizes the constant progression of the individual through the world, reminding us that the path is made by walking. In the garden, three bronze statues captivate with their powerful symbolism: one, sitting on a bench with an open suitcase, embodies permanent settlement in a country, while The Girl with Balloons represents dreams and lightness, and The Girl with the Mask evokes the duality of our identity.
Inside, a collection of 20 old and new sculptures awaits visitors. Among them, three works stand out for their significant scope. The Walker with Masks, featuring a video in its belly, explores the complexity of our identity shaped by social masks. Two brides, one in white and the other in black, respectively represent the decomposition of nature and the struggle for freedom in the face of contemporary challenges, whether they be religious dogmas, endangered democracies, or new forms of dictatorship.
Alida Torbay shares, “The path does not exist; it is a fiction, a succession of lived experiences and events that form the being. While being intensely enchanted, possessed by our experiences, we never cease to know that we are sitting in an armchair contemplating an imaginary spectacle.”
More than just an exhibition, Caminante is a true artistic odyssey that transports the spectator through the emotions and significant experiences of Alida Torbay’s life. Bronze sculptures, immersive installations and evocative videos combine to guide us on an introspective journey, questioning our own existential path. At the heart of the exhibition, universal themes resonate identity, the passage of time, freedom, and the human condition.
Born in Lebanon in 1958, Alida Torbay has journeyed through various fields before dedicating herself to art. “I explored law, bioethics, philosophy and entrepreneurship. It was in Venezuela, in the 2000s, that I discovered a passion for sculpture. I studied at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Caracas and participated in several group exhibitions. This experience shaped my artistic identity,” she explains.
Her work dissects themes of identity, freedom and the human condition. “My art is the result of deep reflections and a commitment to beauty and truth,” emphasizes Torbay. She adds, “Humanity can become nature’s copilot – this is the ‘new path’ that begins with an awareness of our challenges and perils. I do not believe in a generalized collapse of civilizations, but rather in various collapses and multiple disasters.” The artist warns against exploitation and domination, while evoking the possibility of a prodigious technoscientific future, not without the risk of widespread human disaster.
Caminante can be experienced until June 27 at the Cervantes Institute in Beirut, before moving to the Cervantes Institute in Tripoli and the MACAM museum in Alita. An invitation to an inner journey, to reflect on our individual and collective destiny. For in sculpting the steps of our humanity, Alida Torbay reveals us to ourselves, in all the complexity and beauty of our condition as eternal walkers.
Practical Information
Location: Cervantes Institute of Beirut, Beirut Digital District, +961 1 630 755
Dates: from Thursday, May 9, to Thursday, June 27, 2024
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM – Friday and Saturday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
