Every second Sunday of October, the small mountain town of Tuixent awakens with a sense of creative purpose. Art Vanseca, a community-based art event, takes place along the restored path of Vanseca, inviting residents and visitors to explore a temporary outdoor gallery made entirely from nature.
Seven years ago, this initiative was born with the intention of blending artistic expression with the landscape itself. Each piece is installed along the path using natural and biodegradable materials, making the artwork part of the ecosystem rather than separate from it. Over time, wind, rain, and sun reclaim the works, leaving behind only a memory and perhaps a photo.
I have had the privilege of participating in Art Vanseca nearly every year since its creation. Each edition gives me the opportunity to explore a different facet of my artistic practice, while staying grounded in what truly matters to me: the land, the people, and the stories that tie us together. My pieces always strive to be ephemeral, as I find beauty in the delicate impermanence of nature.
This year, however, the story behind my contribution was especially personal. In early 2025, my dog Fosca passed away. She was not just a companion; but a wise and generous soul who chose me and my dog Mylo as her family eight years ago. She grew up in these mountains, and they shaped her calm, observant spirit. It was clear to me that this year’s piece would be dedicated to her.
To honour her memory, I wanted to create something that carried the history of my time with her, while respecting the principles of Art Vanseca: using natural, respectful materials, and letting the land hold the work as long as it chose.
I started with a wooden log — not just any log, but the base from my very first piece at Art Vanseca seven years ago.
Reusing it felt symbolic, like closing a cycle. To paint the log, I used my own homemade watercolours, prepared years ago for a previous edition of the event.
These natural pigments were crafted from soil, minerals, and plants I gathered in the same forest paths that Fosca once ran through.
The focal point of the piece is her gaze. I recreated her eyes using dried autumn leaves, layering hues of orange, amber, and gold to capture that look of silent wisdom that made her presence so unique. Her stare wasn’t just expressive; it was grounding.
The final piece is titled simply: «Fosca».
Walking the Vanseca path this October felt different. The community, as always, had created remarkable works: nests made of hay, spirals traced with river stones, and delicate leaf compositions. But for me, walking alongside my piece was a quiet ritual of closure.
Many people paused at «Fosca,» some asking who she was, others sensing the story just from the work itself. It reminded me of how art can transcend explanations. When materials are chosen with care and intention, they speak a language older than words.
A short video of the process is available on my Instagram account, where I share more behind-the-scenes glimpses of how the piece came to life. Documenting it was important to me, not only to preserve the memory but also to invite others into this process of grieving through creation.
Art Vanseca is more than a local event; it is a philosophy. It asks us to let go of permanence and to embrace cycles. Just like the seasons, just like the lives of those we love. By working with materials that dissolve, transform, or return to the earth, I am reminded that nothing is truly lost — it simply changes form.
«Fosca» will soon fade. Rain will blur the colours, wind will carry the leaves, and the log will rest again among the undergrowth. And that is how it should be. My grief, too, will transform into memory, into gratitude, into a quiet strength that accompanies me in future works.
Art Vanseca is an annual land art event in Tuixent, Catalonia, where artists and residents create temporary artworks using natural materials along the Vanseca path.
«Fosca» is a tribute to my late dog, created for Art Vanseca 2025 using wood, autumn leaves, and natural pigments to honour her memory and connection to the land.
While the piece itself is ephemeral, you can view photos and a process video of «Fosca» on my Instagram account.
I invite you to walk the Vanseca path if you’re ever near Tuixent in October. It is not only a walk through nature, but a journey through what we choose to let go of, and what we choose to remember.
Explore my latest works in the online gallery
If you’d like to see more of my ephemeral and nature-based creations, I invite you to visit my online gallery. There you’ll find a selection of recent pieces, each rooted in the landscape and stories that inspire my artistic practice.
