Co-founder of Catalan theatre company ‘La Fura dels Baus’ exhibits his unique robotic dramaturgy

Marcel·lí Antúnez Roca, one of the founders of the Catalan theatrical group ‘La Fura dels Baus’ has presented an exhibition in Arts Santa Mònica, a cultural centre run by the Catalan Government in Barcelona's famous Les Rambles. The display showcases the artist’s unusual dramatic method, which he names ‘Sistematúrgia’. This concept conceives theatre as a combination of robotics, corporal interfaces and audiovisuals systems. Apart from the exhibition, which will be open to the public until April 4th, this initiative also includes live performances by Antúnez once a week. ‘La Fura dels Baus’ produced the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

Some of the robotic devices on show (by P. Cortina)
Some of the robotic devices on show (by P. Cortina) / ACN / Pau Cortina / Paula Solanas

ACN / Pau Cortina / Paula Solanas

March 18, 2014 08:28 PM

Barcelona (ACN).- Marcel·lí Antúnez Roca, one of the founders of the well-known Catalan theatre group ‘La Fura dels Baus’ has introduced a new exhibition about his work. The display is located in Arts Santa Monica, a cultural centre in Barcelona's famous les Rambles, which is run by the Catalan Government. This initiative intends to showcase his unusual dramatic method, which he calls ‘Sistematúrgia’. All of Antúnez’s performances and installations revolve around this concept, which conceives theatre as a combination of robotics, corporal interfaces and audiovisual systems. Apart from the exhibition, which will be open to the public until April 4th, the project also includes live performances staged by the artist once a week. ‘La Fura dels Baus’ was founded in 1979 in Barcelona and has produced major events such as the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.


The display, which is an attempt to give a general idea about Antúnez’s odd universe by using all the materials he works with, is organized into four different areas. The first one, ‘Escenari’ (Stage), is in the gallery’s cloister, where the live performances will take place. Every week, there will be various shows created by the artist throughout his broad theatrical career such as ‘Pseudo’, ‘Epizoo’ or ‘Protomembrana’.

Another part of the exhibition, ‘Processos’ (Processes) will introduce drawings used by Antúnez during his creative process. This artistic side is also portrayed in the SADDi Mural, a project in which the artist will complete a mural in the gallery’s stairway. There is also a space where visitors will be able to interact and play with six different art works, called ‘Instal·lacions’ (Installations). Finally, the area named ‘Dispositius’ (Devices) will showcase the artist’s robots and corporal interfaces.

Marcel·lí Antúnez Roca has exhibited his work at numerous festivals, galleries, museums and theatres all around the world. His particular performances and unique interactive installations have earned him an international reputation. The artist, who was the co-founder of ‘La Fura dels Baus’ along with Carles Padrissa and Pere Tarinyà, was linked to the Catalan theatre company for ten years.