El viaje de Jorge Oteiza a la Exposición Universal de Bruselas de 1958: de la crítica al proyecto arquitectónico

Abstract

The recreation of the trip made by the sculptor Jorge Oteiza from Irun to the Brussels Universal Exposition (Belgium, 1958) makes it possible to know the architecture he visited, which are listed in the documentary material available in his archive. The aim is to determine the influence that those architectonical experiences represented in his thinkings and projects. The way of integrating art and architecture that Oteiza defends, pointing out the example of the Pavilion of Finland by Reima Pietila; but he rejects pavilions based on boastful structures (French pavilion) or those built on the idea of total transparency (German pavilion), as well as the artistic montages shown on the basis of lights, sounds and movement. It is also established the direct influence that the Pavilion of Austria, by Karl Schwanzer, had on the architectonical project he was developing at that time with the architect Roberto Puig for the Monument to Batlle in Montevideo. By this, it is confirmed the existing link between Oteiza and the architecture during the 50’s, not only as a collaborator but as a creator since he developed creative sculptural and architectural projects based on those issues and architectonic references discovered in his trip to the Expo’58.