Solitude: solitude, collectivity and presence in the work of Santi Flores
In the sculptural universe of Santi Flores, the collection Solitude emerges as one of his most profound and meditative proposals. Beyond three-dimensional form and monumental human gestures, Solitude delves into a fundamental paradox of the contemporary world: being surrounded by others without ceasing to feel alone.
Through this series, Flores explores how individual presence manifests within a group, proposing a dialogue between figure, space and spectator that goes beyond the purely visual.
Artistic concept: solitude within the crowd
The title of the collection —Solitude— synthesizes the conceptual core of the series. The work does not approach solitude as absence or emptiness, but as a dual condition: the individual who coexists with others without ceasing to maintain their emotional and visual identity.
The sculptures and murals of Solitude are composed of modular structures filled with stylized human figures that seem to form a crowd. Despite their physical proximity, each figure retains its position, its gesture and its uniqueness.
This tension embodies a contemporary truth: the crowd does not necessarily negate individuality, but it does not replace it either, and it is in this middle ground that the collection's reflection is born.
Material and technical language
The works that make up Solitude are made primarily of 3 mm thick steel with synthetic enamel finishes. This technical choice responds to both aesthetic and spatial criteria:
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The steel provides presence and solidity.
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The synthetic enamel provides color, rhythm and visual texture.
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The separation of the pieces from the wall (generally about 3 cm) allows light to create projected shadows, extending the work beyond the physical plane and adding a psychological dimension to the composition.
This use of light and shadow is not decorative: it becomes part of the narrative of the work. The shadows multiply the figures, reinforcing the sense of crowd and depth, and cause the viewer's perception to evolve as their viewing position changes.
Examples of presentation and exhibition context
📍 Barrio de las Letras – Madrid (2024)
Santi Flores' exhibition in Madrid's historic Barrio de las Letras marked one of the most visible moments of the collection Solitude. The giant sculptures were installed in plazas and pedestrian spaces in the neighborhood, creating an urban route that invited the viewer to rediscover the city through art.
At the same time, a smaller-scale version of Solitude was presented at the Galería Nueva, offering a more intimate reflection on the relationship between the individual and the crowd.
Interpretation and meaning
The collection Solitude can be read as a commentary on the individual in contemporary society. In a world marked by hyperconnectivity, human relationships have become simultaneously broader and more fragmented. In this context, Flores proposes a poetic reading:
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Solitude is not absence, but awareness.
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Collectivity does not eliminate individuality, but it does transform it.
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The sculptural presence invites us to stop, observe and reflect.
The formal tension between individual figures and collective structures leads the viewer to think about their own position within space —their place within a group, a city, a community.
Solitude is a collection that transcends aesthetics. It not only presents visually striking works, but also raises profound questions that resonate with the contemporary human experience:
What does it mean to be accompanied and, at the same time, separate?
How do we find identity within the crowd?
What defines us as singularly alone and collectively connected beings?
By transforming complex concepts into sculptural and spatial forms, Santi Flores makes Solitude a bridge between art, city and awareness.