Biography
I was born in Madrid into a family deeply connected to art and music. My mother, Begoña Olavide, musician and researcher of ancient music, and my father, Carlos Paniagua, luthier specialized in medieval and Renaissance instruments, instilled in me an intimate connection with the arts from an early age. I grew up in a little town by the sea, surrounded by creative influences, such as my uncles (the Paniagua brothers), pioneers in ancient and fusion music; my great-uncle Gonzalo de Olavide, composer; or my aunt Maribel Adame, who introduced me to cinema, literature, and textile handicrafts. This family environment shaped my artistic sensibility and respect for tradition.
From childhood, I immersed myself in ancestral melodies and the magic of craftsmanship, developing technical skills and a fascination for the mysterious and supernatural elements that permeate my work. I studied Fine Arts, exploring disciplines such as sculpture, painting, scenography and restoration while expanding my linguistic horizons by learning German and Portuguese, which allowed me to connect more deeply with the cultures that influence my work.
My life has enriched my artistic trajectory in places like Madrid, Almeria, Tangier, Berlin, and Lisbon, each leaving its mark on my work. In Berlin, I worked with the Hermann Noack bronze foundry and had the opportunity to interact with works by artists such as Hans Arp, Leiko Ikemura and Georg Baselitz, experiences that broadened my perspective on contemporary art.
I have exhibited internationally in countries such as Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Nigeria, bringing my artistic vision to diverse contexts.
Although I did not follow my family’s musical path, music flows as an undercurrent in my visual work, influenced by genres such as jazz, heavy metal, and classical. Additionally, my commitment to protecting living beings is reflected in projects like “Animal Soul,” which denounces animal and environmental abuse, and in social initiatives such as the projection “Tránsito” on International Women’s Day 2021 in Madrid.
Currently, I live in Berlin, a city that inspires me with its contrasts, discomforts, and cultural vibrancy, essential elements for my artistic creation.
Statement
In my work, I seek to create spaces for contemplation, where complexity and detail are revealed through texture, form, and the tension between light and shadow.
Within the realms of painting, drawing, and sculpture, I explore the fusion of materials and techniques, aiming to create rich, textured surfaces that challenge flatness and emptiness.
My creative process often begins with darkness, a metaphor for the origin of life. From this starting point, I navigate various paths towards light, a journey that connects with the world of theater, where darkness is the initial state, allowing light to emerge and transform the stage into a space where magic unfolds. This interplay between light and shadow resonates deeply with me, as I find beauty not only in illumination but also in the mystery of darkness. The “magical gloom” is a central concept in my work, reflecting the duality between light and darkness, reality and the supernatural.
The impulse to create is often sparked by intense emotions or a desire to respond to social injustices and urgent issues. Although the themes I explore may be disturbing or even frightening, my artistic expression is guided by delicacy and respect rather than aggression. After a period of research into a harsh and complex subject, I allow time for emotions to settle and cool, enabling me to address the topic with a sense of denunciation but without violence.
Two central threads—Empathy and Liberation—are woven throughout my artistic career. These values remain present in all my works, even as they take on diverse formal expressions. Through experimentation with new techniques and materials, each piece finds its own voice and way of expression.
The wrinkles of tissue paper, the fluid lines of wire, and the waves of painted fabric serve as mediums through which I reflect on human behavior and our relationship with other living beings and the planet.
Curriculum Vitae
Candela Pan, Madrid, 1986
Lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
EDUCATION
2011 Complutense University, Madrid (UCM) / Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts.
Several scholarships for her academic merits, such as the Excellence Award (Ministry of Culture).
2017 Förderband, Kulturinitiative Berlin / Cultural project and event management training.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
· Aufgerissen. Gallery in Club der polnischen Versager, Berlin.
2021
· Tránsito. Videoart projection and intervention on the facade of La Tabacalera, Madrid.
· Tránsito. Videoart at Gallery in EWA Frauenzentrum, Berlin.
2020
· Cafelines. Art space at Café Take a Brake, Berlin.
2017
· Anima Animalis. Gallery Silves Arte Contemporáneo, Huércal-Overa – Spain.
2016
· Alma Animal. Espacio B, Madrid.
2013
· Meditabundos. Art space Woanders, Berlin.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
· Punto y Raya. Kunstremise an der Wassermühle, Beelitz, Germany. (Upcoming)
2024
· Onlive on the road (exhibition and performance). Kunstlabor, Berlin.
2023
· Once upon a time. HilbertRaum, Berlin.
· Nostalgia tastes like the Sea. (Festival ¡Andaluces, levantaos!) BLO Ateliers, Berlin.
· Ground State. (Festival LagosPhoto) Untitled Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria.
· Onlive 2 – Society. Gallery Sta Art, Alphen aan den Rijn, Holland.
· World Day of Cultural Diversity. Virtual Gallery Kuvik.
2022
· Perfect Instincts. Virtual Gallery Kuvik.
· Performance Trânsito with Nália Agostinho and Taíla Carrilho, Espaço Espelho d’água, Lisbon
· Dia da Mulher, Artspace-lx, Lisbon.
· 2 Public presentations of the project “Hunted Hunter” made during the Residency in Hangar, Hangar’s Art Space, Lisbon.
2021
· Artist Book presentation and art installation, Gallery erstererster, Berlin.
2019
· Time Laboratory. (Festival 48 Stunden Neukölln) Zum böhmischen Dorf, Berlin.
· El cazador cazado. (Festival J.A.C.A V) E.S.L.A Eko, Madrid.
2018
· Soy un bulto en el suelo. (Festival J.A.C.A IV) E.S.L.A Eko, Madrid.
2017
· Animals, Gallery Barquilla, Almería – Spain.
· Das andere Ich, innere Schatten. (Festival 48 Stunden Neukölln) Kunstwerkstatt Sommer, Berlin.
· La Alienación. (Festival J.A.C.A III) E.S.L.A Eko, Madrid.
2016
· Instintos Distintos. GlogauAir, Berlin.
2015
· Meditatives. (Spanish National Day) Spanish Embassy, Berlin.
· Artsenale. Lokal Yellow, Leipzig – Germany.
2013
· Camels. Creative space Lashopp, Berlin
2010
· The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp. Exhibition and performance, at Círculo de Arte de Toledo and afterwards at UCM (Complutense University), Madrid.
2009
· The Animal Anatomy, University UCM, Madrid.
RESIDENCIES
2023 · Live creation, artistic collaborations, and residency at Sta Art Gallery, Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands.
2022 · Artist in residence at Hangar, Lisbon.
2023 / 2022 / 2021 · Drawing seminar and residency at Gut Rossin, Mecklenburg Vorpommern (Germany).
COLLECTIONS
Artworks in private collections in Spain and Germany
In Action
2022 · Performance ‘Trânsito’, in Espaço Espelho d’Àgua, Lisbon. With artists Nália Agostinho and Taíla Carrilho.
Detail of performance. Photo: Mwana Pwo.
Detail of performance. Photo: Mwana Pwo.
2022 · Modeling sculpture for performance ‘Trânsito’, Studio at Hangar Residency, Lisbon.
2022 Exhibition during art residence in Hangar, Lisbon.
2022 · Exhibition ‘Aufgerissen’ – Gallery in Club der Polnischen Versager, Berlin. Photo by Ingo Thomas
Clarinetist Hugo Rodriguez during performance at the exhibition.
2022 · Video projection at the interdisciplinary event “Time Laboratory” as part of the 48 Stunden Neukölln art festival in Berlin.
My video projection was the background and accompaniment for concerts, poetry recitals and readings.