Sometimes the studio has to wait.

Walking through the beautifully restored Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero, one quickly realises that this is more than an exhibition space. It is a place where contemporary art is given the room and the silence it deserves.

I came here primarily to spend time with the work of Anselm Kiefer, an artist whose ability to transform painting into something that feels almost archaeological continues to fascinate me. Standing in front of his monumental works reminds me that scale alone never creates impact; it is the conviction behind every layer that gives a painting its presence.

The museum also presents remarkable works by Anish Kapoor, Sean Scully, Olafur Eliasson, and many other leading contemporary artists. Each room invites you to slow down, to look longer, and to discover something that wasn’t visible at first glance. One work, however, stayed with me long after I left. Miquel Barceló’s Doble Eucaristía (1991). Initially, it was the extraordinary physicality of the painted surface that drew me in. Then I noticed something unexpected: dragonflies. For obvious reasons, they immediately caught my attention. It is fascinating how a seemingly small detail can suddenly establish a personal connection between artist and viewer.

Days like this are a reminder that looking is not a pause from the work; it is part of the work.

I already know I will return before the exhibition closes at the end of October. Some works deserve more than one encounter.