Drawings that question maps
Artist Elsa Paricio exhibits a series of drawings and collages in Valencia under the title Primera Parte_Ojeada general sobre el mundo. Part of the Abierto València 2026 festival, the show focuses on analysing cartographic representation systems and their relationship with power. Paricio uses an old geography textbook, Geografía y Atlas de cuarto grado, as a starting point to explore how certain worldviews have been constructed and perpetuated.
Through diagrams, projections, and territorial structures, the exhibition invites reflection on the terminology and scientific discourses that have consolidated specific power positions. The phrase «morada del hombre», taken from the book, serves as an example of how educational language has shaped our perception of territory.
A cabinet turned into a classroom
The Gabinete de dibujos (Literat Azorín, 33) hosts this installation, where Paricio transforms the space into a classroom to «re-learn» how to look at the world. The collages and drawings, made with materials from the textbook, propose a critical review of the systems of classification and representation of the planet.
This is not the artist’s first foray into taxonomy. In 2019, her installation Colección Voltaire—presented in Madrid—already explored the classification of anthropomorphic characters using entomological labels. On this occasion, Paricio expands her reflection to cartography and its role in constructing global narratives.
Dates and access
The exhibition is open to the public from 18 September to 20 November 2026. Admission is free and no prior booking is required. For more details on opening hours, check the venue’s profile.
For more exhibitions in Valencia, visit our exhibitions section.
