Ephemeral environmental art exhibition in Engolasters: The Guardians of the Lake by Pilar Montecino

Discover “The Guardians of the Lake”: art and mystery in Engolasters this summer

This summer, get ready to discover an artistic experience where nature and art come together. The Comú of Encamp invites you to walk along the Camí del Mig, in the surroundings of Lake Engolasters, to discover a surprising environmental art installation: “The Guardians of the Lake.”

A magical walk among 70 clay faces

As you walk through the forest, you will see how 70 hand-crafted clay faces emerge silently and attentively from the trunks of the pine trees. This ephemeral installation, the first outdoor project by artist Pilar Montecino, transforms the natural environment into a space where the boundary between the living and the inert fades away. Each mask is unique and has been created using natural clay mixed with organic elements such as leaves, seeds, and fibers.

Inspired by the legend of the submerged village

Mystery surrounds this exhibition, inspired by one of the legends of Lake Engolasters, according to which its waters hide an ancient submerged settlement. The work invites you to imagine that, even if no one knows whether the village really existed, the trees remember. As the artist herself says: “The earth becomes a gaze. The tree becomes memory.”

The artist and her connection to the lake

The project is born from a very deep connection. Pilar Montecino lived alone in the area around the lake for more than ten years, walking daily through the corners of the Engolasters forest. These guardians are, according to the sculptor, ancestral presences that she has simply sought to reveal, allowing time, wind, and rain to slowly transform the pieces and reintegrate them into the landscape. As expressed in her manifesto: “They were born from the earth, and to the earth they will return.”

Practical information for your visit

• Exhibition dates: from July 1 to September 30. You will be able to follow a short route with 3 interpretive panels.
• Opening event: June 25 at 6:00 pm by Lake Engolasters (open to everyone).
• Location: Camí del Mig, Lake Engolasters.
• Important recommendation: Let yourselves be guided by the path, observe and listen. To ensure the preservation of this living project, please do not touch the artworks or the trees. Look at them and enjoy them fully.

Come to Engolasters this summer and discover the guardians of the forest!

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