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Dr. José Manuel Cardiel has received one of the most prestigious awards in the city: the title of Exemplary Zaragozan, awarded by the Zaragoza City Council in its 2025 edition. This award, celebrated for the first time during the San Valero festival instead of the Fiestas del Pilar, highlights those who have made an exceptional contribution to the social, cultural or professional well-being of the Aragonese capital. A career of medical excellence and solidarity Cardiel, a graduate in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Zaragoza (1981) and a specialist in Stomatology from the Complutense University of Madrid (1984), has dedicated four decades to clinical practice. With a private practice in Zaragoza since 1984, he combined his work with services in the Armed Forces until 1999. Currently, he is part of the General and Digestive Surgery team at Quirón Hospital, where he continues to apply his expertise. His role as author of two medical works –Manual de Patología y Salud Bucodental and Enfermedad Bucodental y Tratamiento Odontopediátrico– reflects his commitment to scientific dissemination. Commitment beyond medicine In addition to his health work, Cardiel stands out for: Diplomacy: As honorary consul of Honduras in Aragon since 2013, he has strengthened international ties.Sport: Spanish Archery Champion in 1994, demonstrating dedication and discipline.Solidarity: His work in […]

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 balance. The show, 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, a maxillofacial surgeon and artist. The pieces, created between 2020 and 2024, explored various techniques inspired by Jackson Pollock’s action painting: Dripping: Used in works such as “Primitive Ritual” (2022). Pouring: Applied in “Ukraine in Flames” (2023). Use of medical instruments such as spatulas and syringes to apply paint. Themes Covered Cardiel managed to transcend pure abstraction, incorporating social and emotional references into his canvases. Some notable works included: «The Silenced Scream» (2024): A powerful reflection on gender violence. «Biomorfosis» (2021): Exploration of human fragility through organic strokes. Impact and Reception The exhibition not only attracted art lovers, but also medical professionals interested in the intersection between science and creativity. The guided tours on Thursdays were especially popular.

The exhibition Under the protection of our Virgin of Pilar, by the artist José Manuel Cardiel, transformed the Espacio Recoveco of the Grupo San Valero Building (plaza de Santa Cruz, s/n) into a dialogue between religious tradition and abstract expressionism during October 2024. Organised by Cultura USJ as part of the Fiestas del Pilar, the exhibition combined technical innovation and spiritual symbolism. Key details Works: Three acrylic pieces that reinterpret the silhouette of the Virgen del Pilar through gestural strokes and superimposed layers, avoiding literal representations.Techniques: Use of dripping and spatulas to create dynamic textures, characteristic of the abstract expressionist style.Opening hours: Free admission from Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.), integrating the exhibition into the cultural agenda of the festivities. Artistic proposal and meaning Cardiel approached Marian iconography from a contemporary perspective, using vibrant colours and organic forms that evoked both the Virgin's mantle and the spiritual energy of Zaragoza. The works, without a specific title, prioritised emotional abstraction over figuration, inviting a personal reflection on Pilarist devotion. Context and relevance The exhibition was part of the Espacio en Blanco programme of USJ Culture, which promotes artistic projects linked to Aragonese heritage.

Publication in hoyaragon.es, January 8, 2024 | Camila Fagá José Manuel Cardiel is one of those people for whom 24 hours a day seem short. A doctor by vocation, he developed medicine as a stomatologist for 40 years, and is currently part of the Quirón surgery team with Dr. Eloy Tejero. In addition, Cardiel is a consul of Honduras, Vice President of the College of Physicians, a talk show host on Cadena Cope, on Aragón TV and an artist since 33 years ago when he discovered his passion for painting. All these facets and many more things fill not only his professional resume, but also his life resume, capturing in each of his works his way of being: restless, dynamic and persistent. It has been said that he is the “Aragonese Pollock” due to his painting style, abstract expressionism. Cardiel uses the dripping technique, which consists of spontaneously and energetically splashing paint on a canvas through his hands without practically using brushes. «It all started as a hobby, but I am very persistent and consistent in my manifestations, and what at the beginning was a hobby, for two years it has become almost another profession, since, I am and will continue to be