Tórtola Valencia, pienso en ti con mis manos
This work follows the traces left by the dancer Carmen Tórtola Valencia, which must be examined with a magnifying glass in order to find the detail and the subtext. It speculates beyond the archival image, beyond what the press of the time reported, and beyond what Tórtola could and wanted to share at that particular moment.
The story is shaped through different poetic performative gestures that allow us to revisit memory and explore other possible narratives and responses with which to archive the present, as well as to recover and acknowledge references within art and within our lives.
Lara Brown
Lara Brown, born in Burgos, currently develops her work between Madrid and Barcelona. She is an artist and performer. She understands creation as a generator of a poetic gesture that, through research, can function as a gift, as an exchange of affections that can accompany us in inhabiting the world as gently as possible.
Her work extends beyond the boundaries of the stage, expanding into and creating contexts for artistic practice in relation to diverse audiences. Working with artists, publications and other site-specific actions is an integral part of her practice.
In 2025, she curated the Pic-Nic Sessions at Museo CA2M and worked as an artist mentor at La Escocesa, Barcelona.
She was also awarded the Artistas en Residencia grant at La Casa Encendida and selected for the Becas Barcelona Crea, Fàbriques de Creació programme, through which she developed the first stage of research for the project Tórtola Valencia, pienso en ti con mis manos.
In 2026, she received support from the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts grants for the production of the next stage of this project. She is also part of the #Arteporvenir programme of Fundación Carasso, which supports the project.
The first gesture of this work was presented at Festival Sâlmon, Centro de Arte Santa Mónica, Festival Acento at La Casa Encendida, and the Pontevedra Biennial. Another gesture will take place soon as part of the Castillo-Palacio Magalia, INAEM residency programme.
In recent years, her practice has focused on researching the influence of social and political contexts on popular dances and their impact on the contemporary body.
Her work has been presented in contexts including: Dansa Metropolitana, Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Teatros del Canal, Festival Dansa València, Expo Dubai 2020, Prague Quadrennial, Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, Festival Moujuïc, La Casa Encendida, Graner, Centro de Danza y Artes Vivas, Centro de Danza La Caldera, Museo TEA, Fira Mediterrània de Manresa, Festival Escena Patrimonio...