About - Xavi Bou

XAVI BOU (BARCELONA, 1979)

Xavi Bou became interested in natural sciences at a young age, during walks with his grandfather in the wetlands of the Llobregat Delta. He graduated in Geology from the University of Barcelona and went on to complete his studies in photography. He dedicated 15 years to advertising and fashion photography, which not only helped him to master techniques, but also to acquire the aesthetic sensitivity that would eventually define his particular perspective. After that, he was able to apply this knowledge to his true passion: nature.

His most famous project, “Ornithographies”, started in 2015. The fact of showing the beauty of nature in a way never seen before guaranteed it a great reception from the beginning. After being showcased in numerous exhibitions around the world and widely disseminated in prestigious international publications, this year it also became reflected in a homonymous book published by Lynx Edicions.

The ornithographies reveal what escapes human perception: the invisible patterns traced by birds in the sky when they fly. Although aesthetics initially played a fundamental role in the project, throughout these eight years of trajectory the importance of the scientific aspect has increased, as a result of collaborations with specialists and the growth of the dissemination. In the words of the author, “It’s the balance between art and science: a project of naturalistic discovery and, at the same time, an exercise in visual poetry”.

Currently, Xavi Bou has initiatives underway that explore other resources, such as video, and other study subjects, such as insects. Therefore, the raw material of his work continues to be nature, and the challenge is to show it in an innovative and aesthetic way that helps the public get closer to art and, above all, raises environmental awareness.

ORNITHOGRAPHIES EXHIBITIONS

> Group show, Fotografia Europea Festival, Itali. 2024
> Solos show, Mathematikum, GieBen, Germany. 2024
> Screening, Loop video art fair, Barcelona. 2023
> Solo show, Bienal Ciutat i Ciencia, Barcelona. 2023
> Goup show, Cervells, CCCB, Catalonia, 2022
> Solo show, Galerie des Halles, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium. 2022
> Solo show, Delta Birding Festival, Catalonia, Spain. 2022
> Solo show, LAB 36 gallery, Barcelona, Catalonia. 2022
> Solo show, Scotiabank Contact photo festival, The Cardinal Gallery, Toronto, Canada. 2022
> Group show, from 30/04, Traces, Momath, New York, USA. 2022
> Solo show, La Chambre gallery, Strasbourg, France. 2022
> Solo show Zingst photo festival, Max Hunter Haus gallery, Germany. 2021
> Solo show, KANT photo festival, October, Denmark. 2021
> Screening, ForadCamp, Catalonia, 2021
> Solo show, Cosmocaixa, June, Catalonia. 2021
> Solo show, Luminic Photo Festival, March, Catalonia. 2021
> Solo show, La Destil·leria Art Gallery, Mataró, Catalonia. 2021
> Group show, L’Illot Sauvage, Renne, France. 2020
> Solo show, Kant Festival, Thisted, Denmark. 2020
> Solo show, Mazier University in Saint Brieuc, France. 2020
> Solo show, Phyletisches Museum in Jena, Germany. 2020
> Solo show, Université de Rennes, France. 2019/2020
> Solo show, Centro Fotográfico Alvarez Bravo, Oaxaca, México. 2019
> Group Show, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, US. June 2019
> Solo show, Punt De Vistes Art space, Barcelona. 2019
> Solo show, VIPHOTO festival, Euskadi. 2018
> Solo show, “Stream Unconference”, Greece. 2018
> Solo Show, Triple Space art Gallery, Rusia. 2018
> Group show, “Photovisa festival”, Rusia. 2018
> Solo show, “Festival Chapitre Nature”, France. 2018
> Group show, “Phes”, Madrid, Spain. 2018
> Solo show, Casa Golferich, Barcelona, Spain. 2018
> Solo show, Fine Art Igualada Photo Festival, Spain. 2018
> Solo show, Mijas Contemporary Art Centre, Spain. 2017
> Solo show, NPO Swiss Cancer League, Switzerland. 2017
> Part of “Leonardo, or the dream of flying” Museum Twentsewelle, Holland. 2017
> Group show “Freedom”, Aperture Foundation, New York, US. 2017
> Ornithographies, group show, Fine Art Igualada Photo Festival, Spain. 2016
> Project presentation at the Observatory, Barcelona, Spain. 2015

EXHIBITIONS

> Solo show “Autoretrats”, Can Basté, Barcelona, Spain. 2007
> Solo show “Paisatges Temporals”, Jardins de la Pau, Spain. 2007
> Group show, “Delta de Llobregat”, Prat de Llobregat, Spain. 2006
> Group show, Fotomercé la Virreina, Barcelona, Spain. 2006
> Group show, “Delta de Llobregat”, Jardins de la Pau, Spain. 2004
> Group show, “L’Estiu Insòlit”, Centre d’art la Capsa, Spain. 2004
> Group show, “Insomni”, Escola GrisArt, Barcelona, Spain. 2003
> Group show, “Cubic”, happing Pota Blava, Spain. 2003

SELECTED WEBSITES

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

> National Geographic April 2024
> Science Notes Magazine, March 2024
> BBC Science Focus, January 2024
> De Morgen, April 2023
> Focus Magazine, December 2022
> Der Speigel, December 2022
> The Observer, October 2022
> Euronews, August 2022
> Wonderground Journal, June 2022
> De Morgen, April 2022
> IDEAT magazine, March 2022
> WWF magazine, August 2021
> Revista Salvaje, Spring 2021
> Birdlife magazine, Spring 2021
> Natur Magazine, Germany , April 2021
> Audubon Society magazine Spring 2021
> Granta Magazine , November 2020
> Yorokobu magazine, November 2020
> Sierra Club Magazine , September 2020
> Natuurfotografie Magazine, June 2020
> N magazine , Norwegian Airlines, January 2020
> Binspired magazine, Belgium, June 2019
> Courrier International, France, November 2018
> Descobrir Catalunya, September 2018
> La Fotografina Magazine, Spain, autumn 2018
> Seo bird Life Magazine, Spain, autumn 2018
> Fotoforum Magazine, Germany, November 2018
> Der Greif Spring summer 2018
> Fine art FotoMAGAZIN edition, Germany, 2018
> About trust magazine, Germany, September 2018
> La fotografia magazine, Spain, September 2018
> SEO birdlife magazine, Spain, September 2018
> Audi Magazine, Worldwide, Spring 2018
> 212 Magazine, Worldwide, Spring 2018
> Studio 21 Art Magazine, Lisbon, Spring 2018
> Illustreret Videnskab, Denmark, May 2018
> Fotomagazin, Deutschland, May 2018
> Bild om Sonntag, Deutschland, April 2018
> National Geographic USA, January 2018
> Geo Russia, January 2017
> National Geographic Spain, April 2017
> Geo Deutschland, January 2017
> Pro Photographer Magazine New Zealand, January 2017
> Migrate Magazine South Africa, December 2016
> Chaeg Magazine South Korea, January 2017
> Greenpeace Magazine Alemania, Octubre 2016
> Wilderness Magazine , February 2017
> Professional Photographer’s of America magazine, EEUU, January 2017
> Revista superinteressante Brasil, February 2017
> Visiones, España February 2017
> Zygote quarterly. EEUU February 2017
> The Guardian UK November 2016
> Sonntag Alemania, October 2016
> Volkskrant Holanda, November 2016
> The Spiegel Alemania, November 2016
> De morgen, Belgium, Octubre 2016
> Metro Helsinki. November 2016
> Metro Chile, November 2016
> Metro Colombia, November 2016
> Metro Mexico, November 2016
> Politiken, Denmark December 2016

TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

> Talk, GDT Photo Festival, Lünen, Germany. 2023
> Talk, El Medol, Contemporary art center, Tarragona, 2023
> Talk, Bienal Ciutat i Ciencia, Barcelona, 2023
> Talk, Delta birding Festival, Catalonia, 2022
> Talk, “Caixaforum” Lleida, Catalonia, 2021
> Talk, “Caixaforum” Girona, Catalonia, 2021
> Talk, “Caixaforum” Palma de Mallorca, Spain 2021
> Talk, “Caixaforum” Tarragona, Catalonia 2021
> Talk, “Cosmocaixa”, Barcelona, Catalonia, 2021
> Talk, “E.T. Fest” webinar, 2021
> Talk “Kant photo festival”, online, 2021
> Talk “Birdlife Rare Bird Club” online event, 2021
> Talk, TEDx, Konstanz University, online, 2020
> Talk, “Birdlife Flyway” webinar, 2020
> Talk “Montphoto photo festival”, Lloret de Mar, Spain 2019
> Workshop, “Centro fotografico Alvarez Bravo”, Oaxaca, México, 2019
> Workshop, IDEP photography school, Catalonia, 2019
> Talk “FIO Ornithology Fair”, Extremadura, Spain 2018
> Talk, “Utopia market” Art fair, Catalonia, 2018
> Workshop, IDEP photography school, Catalonia 2017
> Talk, “El Observatorio” photography School, Catalonia, 2015

COLLECTIONS

> Fundació Carmen & Lluís Bassat, Catalonia
> Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain, Alsace, France.
> Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon, Massachusetts, USA.
> Dawn Art Collection, London, UK.
> Fundació Vila Casas, Catalonia.
> University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics permanent art collection, USA.
> Contemporary art Center, Mijas, Spain.
> Private collectors around 27 countries.