“The Soul of Córdoba” is a pictorial project that invites viewers to rediscover the Spanish city from a different perspective, beyond its familiar image
By Souad Khalil
Within the framework of the dynamic artistic movement currently shaping the European cultural scene, the Spanish city of Córdoba is hosting a remarkable art exhibition titled “The Soul of Córdoba” by artist Juanjo Garlo. The exhibition is part of a series of events organized by the collective Artists for Córdoba Culture and Art. Coinciding with the celebration of World Art Day, the exhibition reaffirms the role of visual creativity in rediscovering cities and exploring their aesthetic and human memory.
The collective Artists for Córdoba Culture and Art launches its new cycle of solo exhibitions with “The Soul of Córdoba”, showcasing the work of Córdoba-based artist Juanjo Garlo. The exhibition will be open to the public from April 15 to April 30, 2026, at the restaurant A Fuego Brasería.
The opening date aligns with April 15, World Art Day, an occasion established by UNESCO in 2019 to promote the development, dissemination, and appreciation of art worldwide. The day also commemorates the birth of Leonardo da Vinci, a symbol of creativity, cultural diversity, and free thought, reinforcing the symbolic dimension of this artistic initiative.
This coincidence carries not only symbolic significance but also connects the local experience of Córdoba to a broader global artistic context, where creative visions intersect across cultures, and art becomes a shared language that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.
The official opening will take place on April 17 at 9:00 PM at the exhibition venue, located on Avenida Al Nasir at the corner of Martín Gaite Street in Córdoba.
On the morning of the same day, April 17, the collective will hold its first public activity within the exhibition program—an artistic action aimed at bringing the creative process closer to the public, taking art into urban spaces, and encouraging participation and direct engagement with visitors.
“The Soul of Córdoba” is a pictorial project that invites viewers to rediscover the city from a different perspective, beyond its familiar image. Under the concept Córdoba Collection 2026 – Painting the Invisible of the City, Garlo presents a series of works that do not seek to faithfully reproduce urban landscapes, but rather to capture their essence: memory, light, silence, and the energy that inhabits its streets.
This artistic approach goes beyond mere aesthetic expression, aligning with a contemporary trend that seeks to redefine the relationship between the artist and the city. Places are transformed from physical spaces into living entities imbued with memory and human experience. In this context, Garlo’s works appear as a visual attempt to capture the unsaid and reveal what lies beneath everyday details, combining a contemplative sensibility with a philosophical dimension.
The project stems from the artist’s direct experience of the city. Walking, observing, and feeling Córdoba become the starting point of a creative process in which painting serves as a language to reveal what is not always visible, yet remains embedded in the identity of the place.
Juanjo Garlo states:
“I do not paint what is seen of Córdoba. I paint what remains within it: its memory, its energy, and its invisible soul.”
The exhibition is presented in a non-traditional setting, integrated into the space of A Fuego Brasería, where art and gastronomy engage in dialogue to offer visitors an intimate and immersive cultural experience.
Throughout the exhibition period, live painting sessions will also be held, allowing the audience to witness the artist’s creative process, fostering a direct interaction between the artwork, the creator, and the viewer.
Through this exhibition and its parallel activities, the collective Artists for Córdoba Culture and Art launches a program aimed at highlighting the individual work of its members while promoting art as a shared experience within public space.
From a critical perspective, the exhibition can be seen as a clear alignment with experiential art, where the artwork is not presented as a closed, final product, but as an open process inviting interpretation and interaction. The artist does not impose a singular vision, but rather invites the viewer to participate in the act of discovery, where perception intersects with memory, and contemplation becomes an essential part of the viewing experience.
“The Soul of Córdoba” represents an artistic experience that transcends the limits of traditional exhibition formats, opening the door to a living interaction between artist and audience, and raising fundamental questions about the relationship between human beings and place. In this sense, the exhibition reinforces the presence of art as a medium of reflection and communication—a bridge between creative vision and everyday reality—in a city that continues to pulse with its history and ever-renewing spirit.
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Souad Khalil, hailing from Benghazi Libya, is a writer, poet, and translator. She has been writing on culture, literature and other general topics.
