There Are Other Worlds, But They Are in This One

“There are other worlds, but they are in this one” is a collaboration between Imaginart Gallery and La Casa de Carlota, the first design studio in the world to include neurodivergent creatives on its team.

Since 2020, Imaginart has addressed the visual and artistic imagery of dissidence with increasingly bold programming. Thus, its programming has included a diversity of transgressive artists, with works that challenge art world conventions. This phase began with the exhibition “Lights and Shadows” in the context of Richard Hambleton’s urban art, which generated concern and impact in New York’s high-crime neighborhoods.

Through Rada Akbar’s exhibitions, “Invisible Captivity,” and Aidan Salakhova’s “The Golden Staircase,” the gallery explored the expression and denunciation of women in the Islamic world through their incisive works. “Las Plumas Ardiendo al Vuelo” (Burning Feathers in Flight) was an iconographic confirmation of the LGBTQ+ universe through the work of Fabián Cháirez, whose impact provoked intense rejection in the most “progressive” sectors of Mexican society.

“Neither Submissive Nor Devoted,” by Maria Eugenia Trujillo, highlighted the contradictory role of the Church towards women, as a framework of oppression and at the same time of emancipation. “Mythologies of the Home” recognized the outstanding role played by feminist artists, even during the Franco regime: Mari Chordà, Marga Ximénez, Núria Martínez Seguer, Sandra March, and Elsa Plaza. Later, the MACBA joined in this recognition with an exhibition-tribute to Mari Chordà. “Lesser Evil,” by Jani Leinonen, stood out for its corrosive interpretation of great myths, from the crucified Christ, replaced by the McDonald’s clown, which caused great commotion in Haifa (Israel), to the grotesque satires of Donald Trump, Lenin, and Pope John Paul II. Finally, the gallery also featured an exhibition by American artist Joel Peter Witkin, whose work, filled with bodies, remains, and sadomasochistic relationships, questions the very roots of Western Judeo-Christian culture.

With this track record, Imaginart didn’t want to miss the opportunity to collaborate with La Casa de Carlota to appreciate, and at the same time highlight, the creative drive and extraordinary work of a complex and diverse sector, but one with truly exciting potential: the neurodivergent community.

“There are other worlds, but they are in this one” is a selection of pieces that seeks to highlight the varied registers, interpretations, and emotions reflected in a work of art. These creations are also perfectly comparable with the work of great modern and contemporary artists. Thus, the works from La Casa de Carlota will be exhibited alongside original works by Miró, Picasso, Tàpies, Yayoi Kusama, Bengt Lindström, Jean Dubuffet, Manuel Mendive, Etel Adnan, and Matisse.