• Colorful abstract painting with splashes of pink, purple, orange, yellow, green, blue, and white paint, covering a large rectangular canvas.

    Hey Ike #1 - ( 400x100cm )

  • Abstract painting with vibrant blue background, pink and green shapes, and the handwritten phrase 'You the only thing I think about' layered over the image.

    Berlin - 300x150cm

  • Colorful abstract graffiti wall with pink spray-painted words "Love" and "You" along with various splashes of orange, yellow, blue, green, black, and gray paint.

    Thanks for your vulnerability and telling me these things - 400x100cm

ART AND HUMAN CONNECTIONS IN BERLIN: FLORENCIA SHANAHAN AND IKE QUIRK

The exhibition shown at Mestiza Art Gallery presented the collaborative project of Argentinian artist Florencia Shanahan and Irish artist Ike Quirk. This exhibition took recall place in Madrid during March 2025.

Since arriving in Berlin, Florencia and Ike had been immersed in creating their works, allowing the vibrant and chaotic energy of the city to permeate their artistic process. The cultural intensity of Kreuzberg, unexpected encounters with other artists, and the dynamics of working in a new environment made this experience transformative. Each day in the studio was both a challenge and an exploration, as they sought to capture in their works the essence of the spontaneous human connections that inspired this project.

Their work, titled The Emotional Intensity of Random Human Connection, combined painting and audiovisual technology, exploring the depth of unexpected human encounters. The idea for this collaboration arose from a personal experience Ike had during a trip to northern Spain, where a chance interaction with a stranger led him to a profound reflection on life. After sharing this story with Florencia, they both recognized a shared interest in capturing these sensations through art.

In addition to the exhibition, the project included a documentary that recorded the creative process of both artists, offering an intimate look at their evolution in Berlin. The documentary was directed by Dasha Altukhova, with Matías Dumas as film producer. This audiovisual piece was presented as part of the exhibition, allowing the public to further immerse themselves in the artistic experience.

A young woman with long dark hair standing in a kitchen, washing dishes at the sink.
A detailed city map of Chicago, Illinois, showing streets, highways, and various neighborhoods with a yellow circle around a specific area.
An art desk with a painted globe, a small print of an art gallery, a handwritten note, a line drawing, and various art supplies.
Two women sitting on a couch, smiling, with artwork and a bust sculpture in the background.
An artist sitting at a cluttered table in an art studio with colorful abstract paintings on the wall and a large unfinished painting of three figures in a forest in the foreground.
An art studio with a large painting of a face on the right, a desk with multiple computer screens, art supplies, and a water glass, with a large window showing graffiti on the building across the street.
A woman standing in a room with a mattress still in packaging, a small table with bottles and miscellaneous items, and a window behind her. The woman is smiling, wearing a black top and light-colored pants, and has her hand resting on the mattress.
Two women hugging and smiling at the camera, one with dark hair and the other with brown hair and wearing a black beanie, indoors with white walls.
A man sitting at a cluttered table covered with paint supplies such as tubes of paint, brushes, and bottles, while looking at his phone.
Photograph of two handwritten notes and a colorful artwork on a wall. One note has text and a cartoon image of a person with hair, the other note and artwork are partially visible.
Row of large, dark concrete blocks or structures, with some buildings visible in the background and a clear sky overhead.
A woman in a gray jacket, jeans, and sneakers is taking a photo of a white poster board with drawings on it on the sidewalk. There are empty outdoor tables and chairs nearby, and parked cars and bicycles along the street.

The Emotional Intensity of Random Human Connection - a film by Dasha Altukhova and Matias Dumas.