ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Alejandro Vico's Gunpowder Works Transform the Real Alcázar's Basement

exhibition · 2026-06-15

Spanish artist Alejandro Vico (born 1983, Granada) presents 'Ecos de un Imperio' in the basement of the Real Alcázar of Seville, running until June 19, 2026. The site-specific project, developed since August 2025, uses gunpowder to create fragmented, unstable images that reference the imperial portraits of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal, whose marriage quincentenary is being marked at the Alcázar. Vico's works, inspired by the smell of combustion and perforated fabric, explore memory, loss, and the role of the viewer. The basement of the Palace of Pedro I—a marginal space within the monumental complex—becomes an archaeological site of memory, contrasting with the official halls above. Vico cites Cai Guo-Qiang as a key reference for his material research, and he has developed his own custom gunpowder mixtures. The artist is currently moving toward abstraction.

Key facts

  • Alejandro Vico's exhibition 'Ecos de un Imperio' is held in the basement of the Real Alcázar of Seville.
  • The exhibition runs until June 19, 2026.
  • Vico uses gunpowder as his primary medium, creating works that emphasize traces, residues, and instability.
  • The project references Charles V and Isabella of Portugal, whose marriage quincentenary is being celebrated at the Alcázar.
  • Vico began developing the project in August 2025, in dialogue with the institution.
  • The exhibition is located in the basement of the Palace of Pedro I, a marginal area of the Alcázar.
  • Vico cites Cai Guo-Qiang as an influence for his gunpowder technique.
  • The artist has developed his own custom gunpowder mixtures to achieve different tonalities.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Real Alcázar of Seville
  • Palace of Pedro I
  • University of Granada Faculty of Fine Arts
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Seville
  • Spain
  • Granada

Sources

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