Oswaldo Maciá's latest exhibition, "Migratory Movements," showcases a unique blend of sensory experiences, developed during his 2025 residency at the Elizabeth Xi Bauer gallery's studio. Renowned for his innovative multisensory approach, Maciá transcends traditional sculpture by incorporating sound, smell, drawing, and frescoes to delve into the unseen systems that sustain life. This exhibition is a tribute to movement, cross-pollination, and the interconnectedness of our environment.

For over twenty years, Maciá has honed what he terms Olfactory Acoustic Composition, an artistic language that emphasizes the "volumes of smell and sound." These compositions are crafted from field recordings captured in diverse ecosystems such as rainforests, deserts, and polar regions, and are enriched by a comprehensive "smell library" developed through collaborations with perfumers and scientists.

Visitors to the installation will encounter a series of "notes" for a sculptural composition that merges visual insights into the communication and interdependence between species, like insects and flowers, with olfactory musings on consciousness.

The sound component is ingeniously integrated into benches designed in collaboration with renowned product and furniture designer Jasper Morrison. This element draws inspiration from philosopher John Wilkins' 1668 endeavor to systematically catalog the animals believed to have boarded Noah's Ark. The exhibition's pastels, frescoes, and ink works on paper interact with both sound and smell, aiming to capture the perpetual motion of often unseen natural forces.

Maciá explains, "I strive to expand the language of sculpture by using sound and smell alongside vision to create spatial volumes. This selection of movements serves as a monument celebrating migration in nature - whether it be plants, animals, or humans - and the cross-pollination upon which all life relies. My work with these forces seeks to counteract stagnation."

The Colombian-born artist demonstrates that 'magical realism,' a genre popularized by his compatriot, the late Nobel Prize-winning writer García Marquez, continues to thrive in various formats, resonating throughout the gallery's walls.

Exhibition Details

"Migratory Movements" by Oswaldo Maciá

5 December 2025 – 15 February 2026

Elizabeth Xi Bauer gallery

20-22 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE