Nacho Carbonell Embraces a New Direction with “Escaping Forward”

Nacho Carbonell has long been recognized for his ability to transform objects into tactile experiences that blur the line between the organic and the fantastical. With “Escaping Forward,” his latest exhibition at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London, Carbonell embarks on an introspective yet future-oriented journey that examines memory, materiality, and transformation. The exhibition, which showcases over 30 pieces, marks a pivotal moment in his career—a bold departure from the familiar while staying true to the evolving core of his practice. As Carbonell himself describes, “Escaping Forward” is both an acknowledgment of past influences and a leap into new, uncharted creative territories.

At the heart of “Escaping Forward” lies Carbonell’s embrace of imperfection, a belief that the creative process itself—filled with both triumphs and mistakes—is a narrative to be celebrated. His approach reflects a profound engagement with materiality, as he repurposes elements from earlier works to construct new, dynamic pieces. Whether through the nostalgic undertones of A La Mesa, recalling his childhood dives off the Spanish coast, or the interactive Mesh Mushroom Doors, which invite discovery and introspection, Carbonell weaves personal history into universal narratives of transformation. This cyclical process of rediscovery is exemplified in The Roots Mural, a sprawling three-dimensional landscape that evokes the flow of time and continuity while pointing to the gaps and ruptures that fuel artistic growth.

In his exploration of new territories, Carbonell experiments with materials like clay, notably in his Ceramic Standing Lamp, which exemplifies his evolving aesthetic and ongoing fascination with hybrid forms where the natural and the artificial merge. As he continues to redefine the boundaries of materiality, Carbonell invites us to question the role of memory in shaping the physical world—a poignant meditation on what it means to “escape forward."

In the interview with Whitewall, Carbonell reflects on this new direction, discussing his use of repurposed materials, the interplay of memory and history, and the dynamic tension between organic and artificial elements in his work.