August 20, 2025
The other day I visited the Oma Forest, an artistic work created by Agustín Ibarrola between 1982 and 1985 in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, in the Basque Country.
The day was typical of summer there, somewhat warm but not overly so, and cloudy at times. After passing the control office at the entrance, a path led me to the forest, and after a walk of about half an hour along the road, I reached the beginning of the painted forest. The work is organized in groups, and generally, there is a point in each from which to view it, so I set out to explore them. I particularly liked some for their combination of colors, others for their shapes, and always within the incomparable setting of nature, which in this case is not only a frame but also a support. Ibarrola conceived his work as an example of the relationship between nature and human presence.
We usually associate art with cities: museums, sculptures, unique buildings… this is a unique experience, and for an art and nature lover like me, it’s a magical place. Besides enjoying the contemplation of the place, there are also sources of inspiration for me—I’m sharing this as a scoop—for a project that will hopefully be released by the end of the year, as I’m working on something different using a new medium: logs. I’ll tell you more. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and if you’re near Bilbao, I recommend Oma Forest. Here are some photos!
