EXHIBITION. ‘Abcedario Mariscal’ at Madrid Design Festival

This exhibition of the work of Javier Mariscal, produced by the Centro de Arte Alcobendas, is approached with absolute modesty from outside his studio and close circle, which have already produced some very good retrospectives, and with the aim of presenting, if this is possible, some aspects of his work that are perhaps not so obvious or well-known.

In 1978, Mariscal published “Abcdari Il·lustat” (illustrated alphabet), a wonderful book made with the savoir-faire of a designer who had not yet triumphed and had everything still before him. That alphabet provides us with an excuse to look at part of his career, without aiming to be exhaustive or encyclopaedic, but to illustrate values, attitudes and qualities, perhaps muted by the media hype, of the most famous and international, although not necessarily the best known, Spanish designer.

The exhibition shows both graphic works and objects, setting out to offer a leisurely journey through his work. One of the advantages of studying such a prolific author is that, although we will have the great classics of his career, even those who are familiar with his trajectory will surely rediscover pieces, both current and historic, that will surprise them.

Finally, “Abcedario Mariscal” aims to bring the work of Javier Mariscal closer to the new generations as entertainment but not without a certain educational quality. If we had to highlight some aspects of the show these would include, without a doubt, drawing as a language and hub of a major part of his discourse, play as a positioning factor for design and life and the joy that transpires from almost everything Mariscal does. But beyond this, there is a tenacity, a rigour, a disciplinary versatility and a capacity to generate empathetic narratives with the public that deserve to be valued. All of this, without overlooking the contradictions inherent to a creator who has not stopped evolving and who, coming from countercultural environments, has become “popular”. More than 100 pieces including sculptures, ceramics, furniture, posters, comics and animations to discover or meet again one of the artificers of postmodernity, the modernisation of Spain and our international projection.

– Óscar Guayabero