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 for summer there, pleasantly warm but not unbearable, and cloudy at times. After passing through the control office at the entrance, a path led me into the woods, and after a walk of about half an hour, I arrived at the beginning of the painted forest. The work is organized into sections, and there’s usually a vantage point in each section from which to view it, so I set out to explore them. I particularly liked some for their color combinations, others for their shapes, and always within the incomparable setting of nature, which in this case is not only a backdrop but also a medium. Ibarrola conceived his work as a demonstration of the relationship between nature and the human presence.
We usually associate art with cities: museums, sculptures, unique buildings… this is a different experience, and for an art and nature lover like myself, it’s a magical place. Besides enjoying the scenery, it’s also a source of inspiration for me—I’m giving you a sneak peek—for a project that I hope will be released by the end of the year. I’m working on something different using a new medium: tree trunks. I’ll tell you more later. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and if you’re near Bilbao, you know what to do: I recommend the Oma Forest. Here are some photos!
