“Cardiel in Pollock’s Mirror” is a resounding success in Zaragoza

The exhibition “Cardiel in Pollock’s Mirror”, which took place at the Espacio Caja Rural de Aragón from September 11 to October 31, 2024, has concluded with an extraordinarily positive outcome. The exhibition, which fused the world of medicine with abstract expressionism, attracted more than 5,000 visitors during its seven-week run.

Exhibition highlights

Works and techniques

The exhibition featured 30 works by Dr. José Manuel Cardiel, maxillofacial surgeon and artist. The pieces, created between 2020 and 2024, explored various techniques inspired by the action painting by Jackson Pollock:

Dripping: Used in works such as “Primitive Ritual” (2022).
Pouring: Applied in “Ukraine on Fire” (2023).
Use of medical instruments such as spatulas and syringes to apply paint.

Topics covered

Cardiel managed to transcend pure abstraction, incorporating social and emotional references into his canvases. Some notable works included:

«The silenced cry» (2024): A powerful reflection on gender violence.
«Biomorfosis» (2021): Exploration of human fragility through organic lines.

Impact and reception

The exhibition attracted not only art lovers, but also medical professionals interested in the intersection of science and creativity. The guided tours on Thursdays proved particularly popular, with an average attendance of 50 people per session.

Criticism and recognition

Several art critics praised Cardiel's ability to fuse his surgical experience with artistic expression. The magazine Arte Actual described the exhibition as "a revelation that redefines the boundaries between disciplines."

Legacy and future

The success of “Cardiel in Pollock’s Mirror” has generated interest in other exhibition spaces. It has been announced that a selection of works will travel to Madrid and Barcelona in 2025, thus expanding the scope and impact of this unique artistic proposal. The Caja Rural de Aragón Foundation, satisfied with the reception of the exhibition, has expressed its intention to continue supporting initiatives that explore the intersection between science and art, consolidating its role as a cultural promoter in the region.