ALTARS (2014…)

We must go back to the dawn of time to find the first constructions that could be called altars. All civilizations have felt the need to have a place where they could carry out the rituals ordered by religion or by the established power. This was usually an elevated spot so that everyone could see it and, in some way, take part in it. These structures are called altars, a word that comes from the Latin altare, meaning elevation.

Thus, the earliest altars were nothing more than a pile of stones placed one on top of another to gain height. Later, they were made of wood, a kind of table that could be transported from one place to another. Eventually, altars were crafted from noble stones such as marble or granite, which is how we know them today. They may be located in an open space or inside a building, but always occupying a high position so that they become the center of the ritual.

An altar is a sacred space intended to serve as a point of connection with the divine. Its essence lies in being a focal point for spiritual practices such as meditation, introspection, or prayer in the case of religious customs. But in many traditions, the table itself serves the function of an altar. Gathering around a table represents the desire to be known, loved, and accepted within a group, with mutual acceptance and a deep emotional bond.

The proposal “Altars” does not seek to represent only the tabernacles intended for religious use, but also those that bring people together to celebrate, in communion, an anniversary, event, or occasion—or perhaps simply to meet without any intention of ritualizing anything. Any of the circumstances mentioned above imply a basic concept of the human condition: gathering as a community.

Across all cultures and eras, whether for good or for ill, the act of gathering around a table, an altar, or any other structure has been one of the defining characteristics of humanity. This is what has led me to reflect on the instinctive survival impulse that makes us social animals.

According to ethology, the science that studies animal behavior, human conduct is based on two patterns that guide our actions: the innate (instinct) and the learned (acquired or discovered knowledge). This conclusion prevailed for many years. Today, it is believed that in many cases the actions carried out by human beings contain elements of both patterns: the instinctive and the learned. The ultimate goal is the survival of the individual and/or the species. Ethologists affirm that human sociability is not only a cultural fact, but a biological adaptation essential for our survival.

MEASUREMENTS:: 40 X 40 cm

NUMBER OF IMAGES: 24 (en progrès)

40 x 40 copies on paper 50 x 60

Hahnemühlemat paper. Giclée copy