MALAGA.- The latest exhibition in Málaga sheds light on the groundbreaking work of Venezuelan architect and urban planner Carlos Raúl Villanueva (1900–1975), a key figure in Latin American modernism. Villanueva, born in London and educated in Paris, initially embraced academic classicism but soon evolved, spending the next four decades reshaping Venezuela, particularly its capital, Caracas. This showcase in Málaga aims to recreate the original ambiance of Villanueva’s visionary projects, including his most celebrated achievement, the University City of Caracas.

Completed between 1940 and 1970, the University City of Caracas is a hallmark of modern architecture and an exemplar of the “synthesis of the arts,” merging architecture with painting and sculpture. Faced with Caracas’s rapid urbanization and a population boom due to a rural exodus in the 1940s, Villanueva designed large-scale public buildings and housing projects for the Venezuelan state. The University City, spread over 200 hectares, represents the pinnacle of his career, incorporating a progressive use of reinforced concrete with modern interpretations of traditional architectural principles.

Villanueva collaborated with prominent avant-garde artists, integrating 107 artworks by figures such as Alexander Calder, Victor Vasarely, Fernand Léger, and Jean Arp into various campus buildings. This approach fostered a unique synergy, transforming the university into a living gallery where art and architecture coexist harmoniously. The site includes a hospital complex, an Olympic stadium, an auditorium, and a library—each serving as testament to Villanueva’s innovative, holistic vision.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2000, the University City of Caracas remains an emblem of modern Latin American architecture and artistic synthesis. This Málaga exhibition, curated by Valentina Moimas, aims to celebrate Villanueva’s legacy, with insights from Anne-Charlotte Michaut from the National Museum of Modern Art.