mono30 celebrates its first 12 months of activity by presenting Col-lectiva, a local project born from the creative fabric of Poble Sec
Poble Sec Col-lectiva, October 3rd – 31st
A diverse group of emerging makers — a graphic artist, an oil painter, a skilled woodworker, two interactive designers, a game designer and a young filmmaker— have come together to fashion a veritable “cabinet of curiosities”.
The guiding principle of this inaugural edition is disarmingly clear: No AI. Each work has been wrought by hand, born of skill, ingenuity and human imagination —deliberately shunning the gratuitous use of artificial intelligence and the appropriation of others’ labour.
Visitors will encounter a jewel-like collection of handcrafted wooden furniture, original paintings, graphic prints on natural fabrics, a singular board game interweaving geometry and time, an interactive digital woodland, and the narrative vision of a filmmaker intent on exploring contemporary themes.
The exhibition offers, at once, an intimate design encounter and a meditation on the ways in which we live, create, play and tell stories —even the most intricate— in an era of planetary crisis. It reveals how “drawing” —whether physical, digital or narrative— can be wielded to confront urgent questions at critical junctures, without ever surrendering grace or good humour.
Remaining faithful to the ethos of mono30, the works extol authenticity, community, regional and communitarian resources, together with acts of cooperation and design practice that, in their substance, form and method, honour people, the environment and the materials at hand.
The social dimension of Col·lectiva is of no less importance. It is rooted in existing bonds within the neighbourhood and the wider city: artists, designers, artisans and creatives pooling their talents and affirming their commitment to community life. What binds the project together is a belief in the power of small, local gestures, sustainable creation, and the enduring worth of human work and imagination.
The exhibition runs from 3–31 October, with opening gatherings on the 3rd and 10th. Alongside, a crowdfunding campaign is being launched, welcoming free contributions or the advance purchase of specially designed rewards by each participant. Proceeds will help offset costs and ensure that Col·lectiva may take place again.
Verkami: https://www.verkami.com/projects/41794-poble-sec-col-lectiva
mono30 Carrer de Margarit 30, Barcelona, Spain MAP
Carmen Barca (Graphic Design)
Carmen Barca’s practice emerges more from intuition than from academic training, guided by a strong geometric sensibility and a visceral digital process. Forms do not merely speak to her; they shout. Her work is raw, experimental, and rooted in a highly personal visual order. Drawing, erasing and reworking are essential gestures within a spontaneous trajectory in which intuition takes precedence over rules.
Christiana Beck (Oil Painting)
Christiana Beck is a painter working with oil and ink, inspired by the slow and layered nature of process. Her work reflects movement and growth, in parallel with her artistic trajectory and her experience in Montessori education. Like a child learning through trial and error, each painting unfolds gradually, embracing imperfection and exploration.
Oriol Garcés (Furniture Design)
Oriol Garcés is a furniture and interior designer. His practice emerges from the dialogue between craftsmanship, simplicity and functionality. Each piece arises from the desire to create useful, durable objects imbued with spirit—objects that connect with both space and people. He works primarily with solid oak and organic materials in natural tones, consistently seeking a warm, serene and timeless aesthetic.
Fernando García / David Rodríguez (Interactive Design)
Fernando García and David Rodríguez draw on their background in video-game development to create interactive environments that are at once playful and provocative. Their work originates at the intersection of craftsmanship, play and technology. They create projects ranging from small arcade machines with alternative controls to large-scale live multiplayer installations.
Sebastián Salazar Claro (Cinema)
Recent recipient of the first “Work in Progress” award at the Huesca International Film Festival with his short film La ciudad de los dioses (2026), he has also qualified for the Academy Awards with En el cielo me dejas caer (2020) and Alma (2023), works that address family issues and the challenges of coming of age in vulnerable contexts.
Stefano Vuga (Game Design)
Stefano Vuga is a designer, author and illustrator whose creative path interweaves graphic design, narrative and inclusive technologies. Based in Barcelona, he develops independent projects and children’s books inspired by memory, play and visual poetry. He is the co-creator of Giulia-CC, a 3D-printable tactile tool for visually impaired children, which combines imaginative design with social purpose.
easychair.org/publications/paper/kS1b/open
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