The AVE Doñana project has successfully completed a first cultural phase in which, since last October 2024, it has promoted different activities with the aim of raising awareness and merging art, science and nature. This project, which will run until 2026, has captured the essence of the challenge posed by the conservation of Doñana National Park, a unique space in the world. In this initial stage, the exhibition Jorge Camacho + Christian Vinck: Round trip, the artists with Doñana has brought together nearly 17,000 visitors, while the program of parallel activities has been attended by more than 700 people, inviting them to reflect on the intersection between science and art.

Within the framework of the 60th anniversary of the Doñana Biological Station and the 30th anniversary of the declaration of Doñana as a World Heritage Site, AVE Doñana has established itself as a space for synergies between disciplines, where scientists, artists and experts have worked together to explore, from different perspectives, the challenges facing this ecosystem. Promoted by the Maldonado Education Through Art Foundation (META Miami), the Biodiversity Foundation (MITECO) and the Doñana Biological Station – CSIC, this first edition of the project has had the collaboration of renowned professionals in the fields of biology, photography, cinema, law or history.

An exhibition of great impact: Jorge Camacho and Christian Vinck

The exhibition Jorge Camacho + Christian Vinck: Round trip, the artists with Doñana served as the starting point for this project, addressing the relationship between Doñana’s biodiversity and bird migration, and underlining the relevance of wetlands in the conservation of the global ecosystem .

In the exhibition, which has been very well received during its itinerancy at the Seville headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation, the Doñana Biological Station – CSIC has collaborated to integrate the scientific approach into aesthetic reflection. It is also worth highlighting the work of Camacho, with his study of the ecosystem of the dunes with the meeting of the series he made on Doñana when he lived in Almonte; Vinck, for his part, highlighted the crucial role of biologists in the preservation of the park, the study of migratory birds and how historical documents can be turned into art, narrating the creation of the Hato El Frío Biological Station in Venezuela.

The film series: an audiovisual look at the evolution of Doñana

Another of the most innovative components of the project has been the Doñana film series as inspiration, in collaboration with Cine Club Vida. Through a series of films and documentaries that have covered from 1941 to the present day, attendees have been able to understand the evolution of Doñana from a unique audiovisual perspective. Among the outstanding screenings are titles such as El corcho (1941), La Primavera en Doñana (1970) and Guadalquivir (2013), which show both the beauty of Doñana and the deterioration that the ecosystem faces due to human activity.

The film series has not only allowed us to appreciate the magnificence of this natural landscape, but has also been an excellent platform for experts such as José María Morales, producer of Wanda Vision, or Joaquín Gutiérrez Acha, one of the most important directors in nature cinema, to discuss the fundamental role of audiovisual media in raising awareness about the conservation of the environment and degraded spaces.

The Wealth of Approaches: Art and Science in Dialogue

Roundtables have played a key role in the project, offering a unique space for the exchange of knowledge between international experts from various disciplines. Through these conversations, participants have been able to explore the impact of art on environmental conservation and understand how different approaches can contribute to a comprehensive vision of Doñana. Zoé Valdés, Juan Carlos González Faraco, Miguel Delibes, Juan Villa, Juan Lacomba, Alberto Donaire and Javier Castroviejo were just some of the speakers who enriched these round tables, addressing topics such as the relationship between art and nature, the legal problems faced by Doñana and the scientific perspectives on the park’s biodiversity.

A highlight was the conference by Marta Sánchez, who, based on her research on foreign crabs, managed to turn this scientific challenge into a contemporary dance, establishing a bridge between science and art. His proposal has been a clear example of how disciplines can converge to convey the importance of conservation in a creative and accessible way.

Diversity of perspectives: from photography to contemporary art

The project has been a platform for a melting pot of approaches ranging from the history of photography to the avant-garde of contemporary art. One of the highlights has been the contribution of Héctor Garrido, who has provided a historical vision from photography since 1870, capturing the evolution of the landscape and biodiversity of Doñana through his lens. In addition, Juan Lacomba has offered a historical and pictorial approach that has helped visitors to contextualize Doñana in the history of the artistic representation of nature.

Biology as Art: The Work of Carmen Díaz Paniagua and Christian Vinck

Among the most relevant contributions of this first phase are the artistic residencies of biologists and artists, who have collaborated to offer a multidisciplinary vision of Doñana. Carmen Díaz Paniagua, one of the most prominent biologists of the Doñana water system together with Celsi Signaris, provided a valuable scientific perspective that has helped the artists to better understand the impact of water on the park’s ecosystem. His contribution has been key in the artistic residency, as his in-depth knowledge of the hydrology of Doñana has informed the creations of the artists who have worked on the project. His vision of the relationship between human beings and their natural environment has been translated into a work that invites us to reflect on the preservation of natural heritage through art.

The president and founder of META Miami, Milagros Maldonado, has underlined the power of art to generate environmental awareness: “The AVE Doñana project is a clear example of how art can be a powerful tool to raise awareness in society about the urgency of conserving our most valuable ecosystems. This first cultural cycle has shown us that, through the collaboration between science and art, it is possible to generate a real change in the perception and protection of the environment” .

Next artistic residency: Adrián Pujol

The AVE Doñana project is moving forward with new objectives towards its next phase, scheduled for the end of 2025, which will include the artistic residency of the renowned artist Adrián Pujol. Pujol, known for his unique style of outdoor painting, will offer an in-depth perspective on Doñana’s ecosystem. Through his work, which captures the atmospheric and temporal variations of the landscape, the artist will seek to portray the essence of the wetland and its ecosystems.

AVE Doñana will continue with more artistic residencies and complementary activities that will continue to explore the interaction between art and science. In the coming months, new initiatives and creative proposals will invite the public to become aware of the conservation of this invaluable ecosystem. For more information about the project and future activities, visit the official website www.metamiami.org.