The Irun City Council has presented Chillida Mendiburu. Espejo del tiempo, an exhibition that unites the works of two significant artists. A total of 24 pieces are on display, 12 from each artist. The exhibition will be open at the Menchu Gal hall until January 10, 2027.
The presentation included the Mayor of Irun, Cristina Laborda; the Culture delegate, Nuria Alzaga; the director of Chillida Leku, Mikel Chillida; the exhibition curators, Estela Solana and Juan Pablo Huercanos; and relatives of Remigio Mendiburu.
Mayor Cristina Laborda emphasized, "It is a great pleasure that Irun can host an exhibition of this nature and bring together the works of two important sculptural figures like Chillida and Mendiburu at Menchu Gal. This is a first-class cultural opportunity for our city, allowing us to explore their work and the connection that existed between them."
The exhibition also features the work Puño Mazo from the Laboral Kutxa collection and loans from various private collections. This initiative aligns with the mission of the Menchu Gal hall, established in 2010 and dedicated to promoting contemporary Basque creation.
The exhibition offers a joint perspective on the careers of both artists and their distinct approaches to matter, space, and the creative process. A notable element is a partially unpublished photographic report documenting the meeting between Chillida and Mendiburu in the mid-1960s at Mendiburu's studio in Hondarribia, captured by Americans Sidney and A. Lurie Waintrob.
Estela Solana and Juan Pablo Huercanos are the curators of the exhibition, which includes museography by Xabier Salaberria and a catalog specifically designed by Maite Zabaleta. The catalog will be available for purchase at 12 euros.
Complementing the exhibition, family workshops led by Taller de Arquitectura Maushaus have been organized. These free sessions require prior registration and will take place on Fridays, October 16, November 13, and December 11.
The Menchu Gal hall is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 18:00 to 21:00, and on Sundays from 11:30 to 13:30.
