Susana Pardo Gallery is an innovative virtual space that seeks to redefine the boundaries of contemporary art by creating intersections between the processes of creation, production, and dissemination. Founded by the multidisciplinary artist Manuel Granados and renowned curator Susana Pardo, the gallery operates at the confluence of the virtual realm and live art practices. Here, visual art transcends mere documentation, oscillating between experiential engagement and recorded media, including text, images, and audiovisual elements.
Technology, particularly digital platforms and artificial intelligence, has radically transformed how Manuel Granados’s work is disseminated and perceived. Social media and digital platforms allow artworks to reach a wider and more diverse audience. However, what is truly pivotal is how these media alter the viewer’s experience. Artworks no longer debut in the exhibition space; instead, they arrive pre-conditioned by numerous digital viewings. This shift moves the viewer’s experience from initial surprise to a more nuanced and refined perception in person. Technology thus serves not only as a dissemination channel but also as an epistemological lens that redefines the aesthetic experience.
Nonetheless, this transformation comes with ambivalence. The constant flood of stimuli and images can dilute attention and trivialize artistic engagement if not approached with a critical mindset. Consequently, my role as a curator takes on a new dimension—striking a balance between the virtual and the physical, between hyperconnectivity and direct sensory experience. The gallery, far from being an anachronism, becomes a space where artworks gain their most tangible and fulfilling dimension. Technology compels us to reconsider and elevate the real as a privileged sensory stage.
In this context, the digital and the physical are not opposites but allies in a symbiotic relationship. The presence of a work, after multiple virtual encounters, allows for a more conscious and complete experience. Technology does not replace reality; rather, it enhances it by freeing the viewer from the barrier of surprise and enabling access to deeper layers of perception. Thus, the curator’s role as a sensitive mediator gains unprecedented relevance: curation becomes not just about showing but about shaping an experience that dialogues with virtual time without sacrificing the intensity of the present.
“As a curator, my aspiration is that visitors do not merely observe an exhibition but enter a state of active experience, where emotion ignites personal reflection. The exhibitions of Manuel Granados are designed as a scenic space in which visitors become actors. Here, curatorial practice is akin to dramaturgy: the goal is not simply to hang artworks but to create a stage where the audience is challenged and can derive meaning from their sensory and intellectual engagement. The way the exhibition is orchestrated transforms it into a theater of memory, art history, and philosophy, inviting the audience to shift from passive observers to active interpreters.
What I seek is to cultivate fertile ground for thought. This process does not involve transmitting closed knowledge or imposing a singular reading; rather, it invites the viewer to craft their own journey through the exhibition. In this approach, the aesthetic experience becomes profoundly vital: it is not merely contemplated, remembered, or interpreted; it is lived. Thus, the gallery is not a neutral container but a device that stimulates questions, contradictions, emotions, and memories. It serves as a sensory laboratory where the artwork does not exist in isolation but expands through the subjectivities that engage with it.”
At the heart of Susana Pardo Gallery is the belief that art production, curatorial practices, and art criticism are collaborative tools that enrich the artistic process. Manuel Granados, known for his diverse portfolio that encompasses photography, video art, painting, and literature, serves as the gallery’s artistic cornerstone. Susana Pardo plays a crucial role in production, curation, and writing, ensuring that Granados’s ideas are realized as tangible works and projects. Together, they foster an environment conducive to creativity and innovation.
Visitors to the gallery’s website can explore a significant portion of Manuel Granados’s artistic journey, which includes not only his professional trajectory and produced works but also curated selections of portrait photography and fashion productions showcased under the Instagram handle @dada_morfo. The website serves as both a gallery and a laboratory for conceptual projects, allowing audiences to engage with Manuel’s work in multifaceted ways.
In addition to showcasing visual art, Susana Pardo Gallery is home to Estudio Mínimo, an editorial imprint dedicated to publishing a range of artistic works, including photography books, essays, photo-poems, and exhibition catalogs, available in both virtual and print formats. A notable publication is titled @elpuaaag 1: Calentito en su infierno, featuring a selection of previously unpublished illustrations paired with thought-provoking aphorisms, all shared through the accompanying Instagram account @elpuaaag. This unique project emphasizes the gallery’s commitment to merging visual artistry with critical commentary and irony.
Looking ahead, the gallery is set to open an exciting new exhibition titled “Power Vacuum” at Pigment Gallery in Barcelona in May. This exhibition is a continuation of the series “Empty to Be” and “Duality to Not Be,” further exploring themes prevalent in Granados’s work. As part of the preparation for this exhibition, the gallery has produced a comprehensive proposal that highlights the thematic connections between the works exhibited.
Susana Pardo Gallery stands as a pioneering platform that blends art creation with digital innovation. It invites audiences to engage with contemporary art in new and dynamic ways. By fostering collaboration between artists and curators, the gallery not only showcases the work of Manuel Granados but also champions the future of art curation and production in the digital age. Its commitment to artistic expression, publication, and exhibition resonates in every project, ensuring a vibrant space for ongoing artistic dialogue.
Photo credits: The photographs are from the gallery’s archive. On the cover: Susana Pardo.