Onil will soon be home to Espai Sempere, a dedicated space that honors the artistic legacy of Eusebio Sempere. Born in 1923 and passing in 1985, Sempere left a lasting imprint on contemporary art and is celebrated as a leading figure of Spain’s kinetic movement. The project centers on the idea that the venue should be a permanent exhibition hall rather than a conventional museum, emphasizing the living nature of Sempere’s work and its ongoing relevance to both local and international audiences. The chosen venue is the city’s Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas Castle, perched atop the building, where the space will showcase Sempere’s artistic footprint and contextualize his influence within a broader art historical framework.
The initiative has resurfaced after an earlier attempt carried out with the Valencia Community Museums Consortium. This time, the project was reintroduced with renewed momentum, coinciding with a public unveiling by Onil’s mayor, the cultural adviser, and notable art critic and curator Paco Linares. The ceremony occurred on the centennial anniversary of Sempere’s birth, signaling a renewed commitment to presenting the artist’s work in a way that is accessible to the public while highlighting his international connections and significance in postwar art.
According to Linares, Espai Sempere will function as a permanent exhibition venue rather than a traditional museum. He notes Sempere’s strong ties to Onil, explaining that the artist always returned to his hometown even after leaving at a young age. The space aims to illuminate Sempere as an essential figure in 20th century contemporary art, with particular emphasis on his kinetic art experiments and the way he helped shape a national dialogue around mechanical movement in art.
Plans call for Espai Sempere to open to the public next June in a rectangular room that was once used by the town library and has remained unused for decades. The restoration process and the pandemic period brought collaborators into the fold, including architectgraphic designer Julián Hinojosa and Rosa Fernández Ibiza, along with a production team that has helped shape the exhibition concept and display strategies during the last two years.
The future space will present a curated arc of Sempere’s career, drawing from a collection owned by Onil and gathering around 25 items to illustrate the artist’s evolution. Visitors will encounter works spanning different media and periods, from oil paintings and engravings created in Valencia in the mid-1940s to silk screens from the 1960s and early 1980s, as well as works on paper, gouache on cardboard, and two sculptures. The exhibit will also integrate other related items to provide a fuller portrait of Sempere’s creative journey.
Images accompany the exhibit, including an etching from 1946, which offers a glimpse into the early experimentation that would characterize Sempere’s broader practice. The display will also feature models and a monument concept inspired by Onil’s own built environment, including a potential commission by the architect Fernando Higueras. This portion of the exhibition is designed to be informative and instructive, with critical material about other municipal projects that intersect with Sempere’s legacy, such as his frescoes in the baptistery of the Apóstol Church of Santiago and collaborations on public murals with Arkadi Blasco built by the Famosa factory. These elements will be presented with archival photos detailing the process and context of each work.
Alongside the main display, Espai Sempere will include a dedicated space for archival documents, letters, and photographs arranged in showcases. Accessibility is a core consideration, with plans to render some works in 3D so visitors who are blind can explore tactile representations of the pieces. All components will be integrated into a single, cohesive space that invites ongoing programming and engagement. The design envisions a dynamic, living space with open doors that evolve over time through guided tours, educational workshops, and school events. Curator Paco Linares—who holds a history degree from the University of Alicante and a Master in Contemporary Art Museology—will guide the project, drawing on his extensive experience curating exhibitions and his collaboration with influential figures in the field of graphic novels and illustrated storytelling, including Hugo Pratt, the creator of Corto Maltés, whose curatorial influence has shaped numerous shows.
As Espai Sempere moves from concept to public reality, the city of Onil anticipates a cultural hub that not only preserves Sempere’s heritage but also invites residents and visitors to engage with modern art in an intimate, accessible way. The initiative reflects Onil’s broader commitment to supporting cultural projects that illuminate local history while connecting it to global artistic dialogues. The project’s extended program aims to foster community involvement and greater appreciation for the artist’s innovative approach and international resonance.
In sum, Espai Sempere will serve as a living archive and gathering place where the Onil context meets the broader currents of contemporary art. It promises to be more than a static display; it aspires to be a vibrant space for learning, discussion, and inspiration, with a focus on accessibility, education, and ongoing cultural exchange. The work will project Sempere’s trajectory from early studies to international recognition, while also situating his kinetic experiments within the wider narrative of 20th-century art movements. The result aims to honor a hometown son by connecting his unique vision with a wider audience and future generations.