Martín Chirino is widely regarded as one of the most significant Spanish sculptors of the second half of the 20th century. His sculptural output continues the great tradition of modern Spanish sculpture established by Julio Gonzáles and Pablo Picasso. As a sculptor he was dreaming about sculpting wind. Aeróvoro is one of his most admired sculptures. A horizontal metal band expands from the centrally positioned loop, resembling spread wings flying to infinity. Chirino works his sculptures in a traditional blacksmith process. Nothing but a forged metal band shaped into miraculously simple forms: rounded shapes, curves, loops, ovoids, ripples and spirals. The spiral shape is the basic iconic form of Chirino’s work. Sometimes it unwinds like a tossed ball of wool loosening its curves, in other cases it tightens around the centre. The artist manages to fold the metal bands into simple meanders resembling a ribbon dance. Endowed with movement, they seem to blow in the wind. They are like flying sea waves washing the seashores of his native Canary Islands. The symbolism of spirals and labyrinths of his sculptures absorbed their archaic tradition in various cultures around the world. Sometimes they create ornaments, at other times a deeper philosophical significance is ascribed to them. In Chirino’s work they are symbols of freedom and the infinite flow of time, the link between real and imaginary.
