Kristel Peijnenborg La Pequeña Mirada

6 - 29 September 2026

Kristel Peijnenborg’s work springs from a patient and innocent gaze – the sort that bends down towards the ground to discover that beneath the grass, amongst the stalks and mushrooms, there lies a world we usually pass through without seeing. Her drawings, watercolours and sketchbooks do not merely depict nature; they delve into it, like someone crossing the threshold of a secret tale. And this is precisely the banner Kristel flies through her art; her meticulous line work allows the minute to expand, so that a mushroom can become a refuge, a vein a landscape, a stone a creature, and a corner of the woods an emotional geography.

Her alter ego appears in the images as small and vulnerable, yet also serene and powerful; dwelling beneath the trees and plants, she takes refuge amongst the leaves, allowing herself to be enveloped by roots, plants and textures. She does not dominate that territory; she belongs to it. She is an almost magical presence, halfway between a little girl, a sprite, an explorer and her innermost self—of a nature that still retains the ability to speak to us and love us.

The idea of using dolls to recreate the garden's history was conceived by the artist Alberto Martin, who has been putting together displays with Barbie dolls for many years. After studying a number of late 19^th-century photographs, mostly from the Silvela Legacy, he created a series of almost identical scenes using not only the world-famous Barbie but also Ken, Madelman and other similar figures. Sponsored by the Malaga Foundation and the Friends of La Concepcion Association.

The aim of this exhibition is to portray both a key period in the history of La Concepcion and the Bourgeois lifestyle of the time in a way that will appeal to visitors of all ages. All of the materials used in the displays have been recycled: bottle tops, sink racks, clothes pegs, pencil sharpeners, pin cushions etc. Each figure is dressed in a different costume and hat made from dressmakers' cuttings; the hairstyles, fans and parasols sported by the women are all unique and were inspired by 19^th-century clothing catalogues.

This exhibition displays period furniture in the room that housed the library of the Casa Palacio in the 19th century. The room can be accessed through a methacrylate tunnel to prevent deterioration of the furniture. This is intended to enhance the value of the elements of this space, which has allowed not only to improve its preservation, but also to generate greater artistic and cultural interest among visitors. Most of this furniture is part of the municipal heritage and dates from the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. Some of the most noteworthy are the office table of General Espartero, made of oak and of French origin, which served as Jorge Loring's own desk; as well as a mahogany chair that accompanies it. Another valuable element is an English Edward VI style mahogany corner cabinet with built-in bookshelves, display cabinet, table and sofa.