Museum Formma in Alcázar de San Juan has opened its doors to the exhibition 'A place', a collective artistic project resulting from the collaboration of local creators Mila Vicente, Marina Arrabal, and Clara del Rey. The inauguration on 5 November was attended by councillors Gonzalo Redondo, Benjamín Gallego, and Pedro Noblejas, alongside numerous residents eager to experience the event.
Representing the artistic team, Mila Vicente, responsible for design and illustration, and Marina Arrabal, who contributed to the literary aspect, were present at the opening. The exhibition, which will be available until 29 November, offers a visual and emotional journey through the shared memories of those who experienced their childhood and adolescence during the 80s and 90s.
As Mila Vicente explained, the initiative arose spontaneously after a chance meeting between Clara del Rey and Marina Arrabal at an online writing workshop. Upon discovering their shared childhood experiences in Alcázar de San Juan, they began crafting texts based on the thread of memory. After completing the literary portion, they sought a local artist to visually interpret their work. Vicente expressed her enthusiasm for the poetic nature of the texts, stating, "When I received the texts, I fell in love because they evoke many memories of things I had lived through." She noted that the collage technique perfectly matched the atmosphere of the writings.
Following an artistic residency in the summer of 2025 at Vicente's studio, the project materialised into a unique exhibition proposal that includes a large map of memories for community participation and references to iconic local sites such as Calle La Zanja and La Fortuna.
Marina Arrabal elaborated on the creative process behind the text and the project's format, explaining that the literary work stems from "two childhoods with a few years of difference, but there are many milestones and common elements that we revisit, and we are not entirely sure if they are reality or if our minds have distorted them." Arrabal also praised the artistic synergy found with Vicente's collage, noting that the book associated with the exhibition, printed entirely at Papelería Mata in the town, recalls traditional foldable road maps used in cars.
On behalf of the Town Council, councillor Gonzalo Redondo expressed gratitude to the three creators for their cultural contribution, highlighting how chance has led to a space for intergenerational connection and mutual recognition among the residents of Alcázar de San Juan. He emphasised the exhibition's ability to resonate with the collective past of the city: "They will give us that flashback to our childhood and bring to mind old places, situations, and moments that, although distant in time, this exhibition will surely help us remember."
