eremuak#8

This issue of eremuak magazine focuses on the bodies / distance binome. These two words, and how they are articulated, carry a strong resonance at the present moment which also extends into current art practices. There have been many moments in art recently where the spatial relationship between bodies – whether close or distant – and between the body and its surroundings, have taken on particular significance.

We have chosen to draw on proxemics theory (from the Latin proximus, “very close”). Proxemics is the study of the use and perception of the personal space that exists around our bodies. Formalised by the anthropologist Edward T. Hall, proxemics examines the way we occupy space and the distances we keep in our interactions and communication. Hall identified several types of space, which vary depending on the type of encounter, the relationship between the interlocutors, their personalities, and other factors. Hall conceived a model of personal space divided into four sub-categories in which distances range from: intimate (bodily), which ranges from physical contact to 45 cm; personal, habitual in interpersonal relationships, 45 – 120 cm; social distance, which favours in- teraction in everyday transactions like work and extends from 120 – 360 cm; and public distance, which can extend to the limit of visibility and audibility. We asked different art- ists and creators – Gari Arambarri, David Bestué, Arantza Santesteban, Nazario Díaz and Ander Pérez Puelles – for their personal reactions to Hall’s distances (plus a fifth one, “circular distance”, which we introduced) in a short, free text.

The journal also has contributions from the following, in order of appearance: Martí Manen, Itziar Okariz, Olatz González Abrisketa, Damaris Pan, Helena Goñi (artistic contribution to the centre pages) and an artistic contribution to the back cover from Leire Lacunza.

⇒ The journal is available for free here (spanish-basque).
To receive a copy of the publication, please email aldizkaria@eremuak.eus

Edition: October 2021 | Print run: 1500 | 44 pages
Edition: José Ramón Amondarain, Aimar Arriola, Maider López
Coordination and graphic design: Maite Zabaleta
Text editing: Fernando Quincoces
English translations: Toni Crabb
Printer: Gráficas Lorea