David Bestué
Barcelona, Spain, 1981
Elements of the past. Trencadissa, 2013
Roman ceramic fragments, modernist stained glass and xibeca
Dimensions variable
Unique
Acquired 2018

David Bestué’s artistic practice unfolds primarily as sculptures, which he usually installs in a dynamic relation to the space in which he presents them. There is a somewhat archaeological approach to sculptural compositions that are often made of found objects or fragments thereof, which he combines to create new narratives.

The two compositions on view are part of Elementos del pasado, a series of works made with found architectural decorative or structural elements that may be understood as witnesses of a specific historical moment. The first — Elementos del pasado. Dos luces (Elements of the Past. Two Light Fixtures) — combines two lights of very different styles, which denote the evolution in the design and technology of lighting devices over the course of time. The second — Elementos del pasado. Trencadissa (Elements of the Past. Fragility) — regroups fragments of stained glass and mosaic, all fragile materials. This composition may resemble the kind of remnants one would find in an abandoned building.