28 Minuts

Time flies by, every second, inexorable, impossible to stop. We find ourselves trapped in its flow, always moving forward. Time is ephemeral, the most precious thing for humanity. Looking at the sky we can perceive its strength, the movement of birds, clouds and the sky itself. Man, in his obsession, has always tried to trap it, to control it, establishing measures relating to his existence based on the natural cycles of light, the night and the stars. In the courtyard of Sant Jaume and Sant Maties, the speed of time seems to slow down, a space with three axes of symmetry, where the four faces revolve around an open-air void full of history.

The work is located in the middle of this space, like a hanging cobweb trying to trap time. Its structure, formed by intertwined threads, resembles the shape of an hourglass. The threads are golden, like grains of sand, and they conduct light and its reflections during daytime transitions, trapping them in the cobweb.

“28 Minuts” (28 minutes) is the key to the cobweb, the vortex generated by the movement of 360 threads connected to two circles installed in the intermediate levels of the courtyard. This movement allows for the space to fold so that the vortex can pass through the central oculus without closing it. The maximum concentration of matter is suspended in the middle of the void. Time, though impossible to stop, is attracted by the acceleration of the oculus hole, dilating, like our gaze, between heaven and earth.

* Joel Rodríguez and Oriol Auqué are collaborating in the set up of the installation.

THE AUTHORS

Pablo Roel is from Barcelona, he qualified as an architect at the ETSAB in 2003. After working in Switzerland and Madrid he began his independent activity with Eva Sánchez in Barcelona. Since 2007 he has combined his professional activity with teaching as an associate professor of projects and urban planning at the URV (Rovira and Virgili University).

Eva Sánchez, born in Valencia, has been an architect since she graduated from ETSAB in 2003. After working in Switzerland she began her independent activity with Pablo Roel in Barcelona. Since 2011, she has combined her professional activity with working as a teacher of technical drawing and mathematics.

Toni Santiago was born in Vilafranca del Penedès, has been an architect since graduating from the ETSAB in 2002. He has extensive professional experience in the development of projects and management of public works and infrastructures. He has also studied at the School of Fine Arts of the University of Barcelona and has participated in and ran multiple workshops on artistic creation and representation as a mentor. He is currently working as an architect and illustrator in Barcelona.