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Entrega de un lienzo de la Virgen del Pilar en la Academia General Militar de Zaragoza al Director Excmo General Prudencio Horche

El Dr. José Manuel Cardiel ha recibido uno de los reconocimientos más prestigiosos de la ciudad: el título de Zaragozano Ejemplar, otorgado por el Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza en su edición 2025. Este galardón, celebrado por primera vez durante la festividad de San Valero en lugar de las Fiestas del Pilar, destaca a quienes han contribuido de manera excepcional al bienestar social, cultural o profesional de la capital aragonesa. Trayectoria de excelencia médica y solidaria Cardiel, licenciado en Medicina y Cirugía por la Universidad de Zaragoza (1981) y especialista en Estomatología por la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1984), ha dedicado cuatro décadas a la práctica clínica. Con consulta privada en Zaragoza desde 1984, combinó su labor con servicios en las Fuerzas Armadas hasta 1999. Actualmente, forma parte del equipo de Cirugía General y Digestiva del Hospital Quirón, donde sigue aplicando su expertise. Su faceta como autor de dos obras médicas –Manual de Patología y Salud Bucodental y Enfermedad Bucodental y Tratamiento Odontopediátrico– refleja su compromiso con la divulgación científica. Compromiso más allá de la medicina Además de su labor sanitaria, Cardiel destaca por: Diplomacia: Como cónsul honorario de Honduras en Aragón desde 2013, ha fortalecido vínculos internacionales.Deporte: Campeón de España de Tiro con Arco en 1994, demostrando dedicación y disciplina.Solidaridad: Su trabajo en

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.