ALCHEMICAL MODERNISM. THE MATTER OF DREAMS, by Senda de Lobos

The Roman Theatre Museum of Cartagena joins the Cultural program promoted by the Cartagena Modernista City Council with the photographic exhibition Alchemical Modernism. The stuff of dreams.

There was a moment in the history of design and manufacturing, roughly between 1870 and 1920, when matter seemed to take on a soul. It was the era of Modernism, of Art Nouveau, a period when every object—a vase, a piece of furniture, a lamp, a utensil—ceased to be a mere instrument and became a statement of intent. Lines twisted and turned, mimicking nature; glass captured light like water; and metal melted into organic forms.

Those artisans worked with fire, breath, and chisel, but they lacked the technology to capture the dreamlike dimension of their creations. The photographs of the time, black and white and technically limited, barely hinted at the three-dimensionality and spirit of those pieces. The purpose of Alchemical Modernism is to complete that creative endeavor today.

At Senda de Lobos studio , the aim is to bring to life, through an artist's catalogue and exhibition series, the image that these objects always deserved but never had. The goal is for the viewer to see beyond an object from 1900, to feel its weight, the warmth of its patina, the fragility of its glass, and the audacity of its form. We seek to awaken the desire and admiration that only luxury in its purest form can produce: the luxury of light, shadow, and dreams.

To achieve this, they have used high-precision lighting systems, continuous light sources and state-of-the-art flash, which not only illuminate the object but also sculpt it; every shadow is deliberate, every reflection is studied to caress the surface and reveal its textures.

Alchemical Modernism is the definitive union between the craftsmanship of the past and the technology of the future. It is the historical object freed from its display case to finally inhabit the light of the 21st century.

Senda de Lobos Studio – Photography and Design

Modernist Cartagena. Cultural Program of the Cartagena City Council

From April 22 to June 27, 2026,
Museum of the Roman Theatre of Cartagena,
Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 9,
30201 Cartagena, Murcia (Spain),
Telephone: (+34) 968 504 802
, www.teatroromanocartagena.org

Roman Theatre Foundation of Cartagena:
Cartagena City Council,
Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia,
Caja Murcia Foundation