Fluids Navarra

The Museum reinvents the 1967 Happening Fluids by American artist Allan Kaprow, a structure made of ice blocks, built under the direction of artist Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle.

Allan Kaprow Estate © Allan Kaprow Estate

Fluids Navarra is the local reinvention of the piece Fluids by American artist Allan Kaprow, under the direction of artist Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, professor of the Master in Curatorial Studies at the Museo Universidad de Navarra, and a team made up of students from the same master's program.

The original work (Los Angeles, 1967) consisted of a structure made of ice blocks, built collectively and placed in the public space, which was left to melt naturally. This happening was conceived with the objective that the work could be remade infinite times. Through his artistic practice, Kaprow sought to dissolve the boundaries between art and life and, although there was an initial version, there is no original or permanent work, but rather an idea of doing something and a physical trace of that idea. 

In this way, Fluids continues, and its meanings are transformed and multiplied according to the context in which it is exhibited. The Museo Universidad de Navarra invites the public to be part of this artistic proposal and to reflect on nature and its transformations.

This project is open to the public and the campus of the University of Navarra. Those who wish to participate in the construction can register here. The number of participants is limited and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

ALLAN KAPROW (New Jersey, 1927 - California, 2006) was an American artist who pioneered the concepts of happening, performance and installation during the 1950s and 1960s. Professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of California and the California Institute of the Arts. His work sought to integrate art and life through the examination of everyday habits, interpersonal relationships and behaviors, through certain circumstances and stimuli. He is an important reference of the Fluxus art movement, of which he was a member.

IÑIGO MANGLANO-OVALLE (Madrid, 1961) Spanish artist based in Chicago. Professor at Northwestern University of Chicago. His works have been present in events such as the XXIV International Biennial of São Paulo, the Documenta of Kassel and the Biennial of the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York). His work is part of major collections such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York), Art Institute of Chicago, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey (Mexico), Museum of Modern Art (Frankfurt), Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), among others. He has received numerous awards such as the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award (2001), Media Arts Award from the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio (1997- 2001), as well as a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (1995).