Rápido REM
Rápido REM is a series of portraits of commuters on the Tokyo subway practicing inemuri, a term that defines a state of vigilant sleep, a form of “sleeping while being present” that is usually done in public places, whether in the office, at school or on public transport. The inemuri has an important cultural component that is sometimes difficult to understand in the West, as it is not considered rude because the person is not completely asleep, they are only resting their minds for a short period of time, and can return to activity as soon as necessary. This led Miguel Leache to explore the link between this custom and REM sleep, which corresponds to light sleep when you have vivid dreams but wake up alert and rested. During this phase, the body relaxes and the mind lets go. In a clear reference to Walker Evans’ Subway Portraits, the famous portraits of New York subway passengers who were photographed without their knowing it, Leache searches for those moments of introspection and vulnerability when one lets oneself be carried away by an intimate dream, despite being surrounded by people.
Miguel Leache was born in Pamplona in 1959. He holds a degree in Law from the University of Navarre and combines his profession with artistic creation, both photographic and pictorial. He has exhibited individually and collectively in museums, art centres and galleries such as the Gustavo de Maeztu Museum (Estella), the Artea2 Gallery (Zizur), the Huarte Contemporary Art Centre, the Mikel Armendia Gallery (Pamplona), the Kalon Gallery (Tudela) and the Centre de la Photographie (Geneva). His work forms part of collections such as the Basque Film Library, the Contemporary Art Collection of the Public University of Navarre, the Pamplona City Council and the Caja Navarra Foundation, among others. In 2022 his photobook Rápido REM received the ArtsLibris – Banc Sabadell Award at the Fira Internacional del Llibre D’Artista.
OUTDOOR INSTALLATION
10 – MIGUEL LEACHE
Rápido REM
VENUE: Casino of Algorta
ADDRESS: Basagoiti 47, Algorta
OUTDOOR INSTALLATION
17 – MIGUEL LEACHE
Rápido REM
VENUE: Language School
ADDRESS: Plaza de los enanos, Las Arenas