Expo Zaragoza 2008 :: Pavilions

The motto of the pavilion, "Aragon, Water and Future", summarises the spirit that the Autonomous Region tries to give out in the Expo, a territory with a future linked to the sustainable use of water and environmental responsibilities. In addition, the Aragon Pavilion shows the cultural, natural richness and patrimonial heritage that the water has left on this land. The visit begins on the second floor, where you can see "Aragon, Water and Life", a display of pieces from Aragonese heritage selected by the Scientific Committee and related with each of the five geographic units: Pyrenees, Pyrenean Somontano, Ebro Depression, Foothills of the Iberian Mountains and Iberian Mountains. Audiovisual material shows sustainable development initiatives carried out in all 33 Aragonese districts. On this floor, there is also a mosaic with 275 photographs of Aragon taken by José Verón Gormaz. The first floor houses the "jewel" of the pavilion. An audiovisual project created by Carlos Saura is shown on eight screens and is reflected on the walls and the floor. It is a fifteen-minute show that reflects the artist's peculiar vision of Aragon. Accompanied by music from Roque Baños, it displays the beauty of the Aragonese landscape in an enchanting atmosphere. This audiovisual symphony projected in a loop includes a Jota dance performed by Miguel Ángel Berna. In addition, visitors on this floor will pass by next to the River of Culture, a track of crystal clear waters that imitates the shape of the Ebro bed. The first floor of the Pavilion holds an exhibition of contemporary art, located in the interior of the large columns. Entitled "Water and its Contemporary Dreams", this international show is organised by Miguel Marcos and Fernando Castro.

The Aragon Pavilion has been designed by Olano y Mendo Arquitectos, from Zaragoza. It covers an area of 2,500 m2 and is 25 metres high. The pavilion is spread over a basement floor, ground floor or enclosure, first floor, second floor and terrace. Aragon Pavilion's interior exhibition space is (without the square/enclosure) is 2,774 m2 (+135 m2 in the cavities of the columns).

The pavilion takes the form of a typical Aragonese wicker basket achieved by intertwined panels of glass and micro-concrete with white glass fibre, providing the interior with a large quantity of natural light. This weave is opaque in the base, becoming more transparent as the building gets higher. The interior of this large basket is crossed by nine large irregular columns, three of which act as supports and communication cores, and six as prisms or landscapes. All the pavilion's cultural activities will take place in the open-air square/enclosure, created in the open space between the floor of the site and the first floor of the pavilion thanks to the three large pillars on which the building stands. The exterior space gives shade to the queues of people waiting to get in or to visitors looking for a quiet, cool place where to rest in the Zaragoza hot summer. The building is also designed with energy-saving characteristics, making it an "environmentally responsible" structure.

Olano y Mendo

Daniel Olano (Zaragoza, 1950) and Alberto Mendo (Zaragoza, 1957) head a team of more than thirty professionals including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, geographers, sociologists, draughtsman and administrative assistants. Their exceptional work portfolio includes Puerta Cinegia (Zaragoza), the Barbastro Convention Centre, the Zaragoza Conservatoire of Music, the Tarazona indoor pool and Sports Hall, and the Cuarte de Huerva Town Hall.

Carlos Saura

Carlos Saura (1932) was born in Huesca and grew up in Madrid. When he was seventeen, he began to take photos professionally. Since then he has always had a camera in his hands to capture snapshots of his family and environment, and of his filming.

In 1951 at the age of 19, he held his first exhibition in the RSF of Madrid (the Royal Photographic Society). He made his cinema debut with the documentary "Cuenca" in 1958, for which he obtained his first prize in the San Sebastian Film Festival. This project was followed by the film "The Hooligans" (Los Golfos, 1960), opening the pathway for Spanish cinema to Neorealism, a style already popular throughout Europe. Saura's best cinema in terms of location scenery is "The Hunt" (La Caza, 1965), a real masterpiece. "The Hunt" received the Silver Bear in the Berlin International Film Festival in 1965.

Some of his most famous films are "Elisa, my Life" (Elisa, vida mía, 1977), “Mama Turns 100" (Mamá cumple cien años, 1979), "Blood Wedding" (Bodas de Sangre, 1981), “Carmen" (1983), "Love, the Magician" (El amor brujo, 1984), "El Dorado" (En busca del Dorado, 1987), "Flamenco" (1994), “Tango” (1997) and "Goya in Burgundy" (Goya en Burdeos, 1999).

Among the many awards and acknowledgements achieved those that stand out are: Special Jury Prize in Cannes Festival with "Cousin Angelica" (La prima Angélica, 1973) and "Raising Ravens" (Cría Cuervos, 1975); the Gold Medal in the Spanish Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences (1992); an award in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (French Order of Arts and Literature) (1993); fourteen Goya Awards with “¡Ay Carmela!” (1990); two nominations for the Oscars; and his investiture as Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Zaragoza in 1994.

Roque Baños
Born in Jumilla (Murcia) in 1968, Roque Baños had a reference point for music in his own family from when he was a youngster as he is the son of a saxophonist.
His first contact with the world of cinema is with the filmmaker Emilio Martínez-Lázaro, who he works with for the soundtrack of "Back Roads" (Carreteras Secundarias, 1977). Since then, he has become one of the best Spanish film composers. He has worked on the soundtracks of films such as "Torrente, the Dumb Arm of the Law" (Torrente, el brazo tonto de la ley), "Masterpiece" (Obra Maestra), "Second Skin" (Segunda piel), "Heart of the Warrior" (El corazón del guerrero) and "Goya in Burgundy" (Goya en Burdeos). The soundtrack for "Goya in Burgundy" was awarded by the Cinema Writers Circle of Spain, CEC. Baños has been nominated for the Goya Awards for the "Common Wealth" (La comunidad) and "800 Bullets" (800 balas) soundtracks, and for the best song with “Sevillana for Carlos” composed for the film “Salomé". He was awarded best original soundtrack for the film "The Other Side of the Bed" (Al otro lado de la cama) in the 15th of October Mediterranean Young Art Awards.
José Verón Gormaz

José Verón Gormaz (Calatayud, 1946) is a poet, storyteller, journalist and photographer. He also works as the Official Feature Writer in Catalyud, where he was given the title of "Favourite Son" in 2006. In the San Luis Royal Academy he was given the Aragonese Medal of Merit in Art (2002), the National Photography Prize (CEF, 2000) and the Gold Medal by the Parliament of Aragon (2006)

Víctor Ullate

Born in Zaragoza in 1947, he is a Spanish dancer and choreographer. Ullate studied in the London Royal Ballet School and in the Danish Opera Theatre House.
He started off in the Antonio Marquez Company (1962-1965) and then joined the Maurice Béjart Company (1966), starring in works such as "Romeo and Juliet" (1966) and "Parisian Gaiety" (Gaîté Parisienne, 1978). Director of the Spanish Classical Ballet (1978 -1983), he created his own company in 1988. In 1996 it changed its name to Ballet Comunidad de Madrid. His most renowned works as a choreographer are "Amanecer y arraigo” (1988), “Arrayán Daraxa” (1992) and “Talala” (1998). He won the Spain's National Dance Award in 1989.

Santiago Auserón

A singer and song writer from Zaragoza, and one of the leading figures of the 1980's movement, Santiago Auserón evolved and brought Cuban sounds back into fashion in Europe. Using the stage name of "Juan Perro" (lit. John Dog), he took the image of a Latin minstrel that went from one continent to the next searching for imaginative, new music vibes. He tried to produce the best music without having to follow commercial trends.

Miguel Marcos
In 1981 he opened up his own Gallery of Contemporary Art in Zaragoza. Both here and in its headquarters in Barcelona there are exhibitions of the most representative Spanish artists from the last three decades. He has participated in art fairs such as Art Basel, Art Chicago and Kuntsrai in Amsterdam.
He has taken part in ARCO since its first edition and is the only Aragonese representative in this art fair. In this year's edition, his stand was chosen as the best in the fair, according to the votes of the members of the Spanish Association of Art Critics (AECE).
Fernando Castro Florez
Lecturer in Aesthetics and Art Theory at the UAM (Autonomous University of Madrid), and the Master's Degree in Art at the Complutense University of Madrid and the Master's Degree in Photography at the the EFTI, Madrid. He is an art critic for ABCD of Art & Literature in the ABC newspaper.
Contemporary art artists:
Baltazar Torres

Clare Langan

Ricardo Calero

Javier Codesal

Bernardí Roig

Fernando Prats