Artistic Director Omar Lopez-Chahous and Special Projects guest curator Rodrigue Mouches extended the invitation to Duran. At the request of the Institut Ramon Llull, both also served as international curators at this year’s Swab Barcelona fair.

Backlot Constructions is a site-specific installation comprised of an eclectic array of objects portraying personal maps and landscapes. Some are drawn from the artist’s personal archives, while others are “manipulated pieces which acquire a different meaning and a new life, creating plotless narratives.”

As Duran notes on the fair’s website, “The pieces in this series are like silent scenes, an assembly of personal maps that push the concepts of construction and representation.”

Born in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Catalan sculptor, painter and set designer Pep Duran has staged numerous films and theatrical performances since 1977. He held his first exhibition in Barcelona in 1978 and graduated from the Barcelona School of Dramatic Arts with a degree in set design in 1979. Since then, his artistic career has focused on issues of construction, representation, space and staging. He is known for his ability to transform sculptures into installations and architecture, striking a balance spanning both disciplines.

Duran’s accolades include the Government of Catalonia’s Cinematography Award, which he received in 1989. His works appear in myriad contemporary art collections, including the MACBA, La Caixa Foundation, and Rafael Tous collection.

Founded in 2012, the Untitled Art international fair arose out of Art Basel Miami Beach, giving top-notch curators pride of place. For the first week of December, Miami becomes the epicenter of the international art world. In 2017, twenty-three simultaneous art fairs were held in Miami; Untitled is seen as the second most important fair after Art Basel Miami Beach.