“ELBA” is a compelling exhibition by Paraguayan photographer Raúl Villalba, showcasing deeply personal and evocative works. The three-month exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore deeply personal and evocative works of art, with free admission. The exhibition opened on 9 April 2026, at the National Museum of Fine Arts.
ELBA: An intimate look at maternal influence
Through digital photography and audiovisual installation, Villalba presents an intimate reflection on the maternal figure. He focuses on the life of his own mother and the profound influence she had on shaping his personal and artistic identity. The exhibition will feature a relaxed visiting format, allowing guests to engage freely with the artworks. Access to the exhibition is via the entrance on Avenida Mariscal López near Pa’i Pérez.
Villalba’s use of still life as a visual language forms a symbolic narrative. Carefully arranged objects, flowers, and foods explore themes of memory, fragility, the passage of time, life, and death. These conceptually rich compositions act as a form of storytelling, revealing personal histories, human connections, and processes of self-formation.
Two distinct levels
The exhibition unfolds across two levels, each offering a distinct conceptual journey. On the ground floor, visitors encounter photographic compositions that integrate personal objects, domestic items, religious artefacts, and food. These scenes, with their soft lighting and apparent order, evoke history, opulence, and decay, while engaging with the symbolic presence of the body.
The upper floor offers a contrasting experience. A brighter, more evocative installation is paired with an audiovisual component that explores memories, desires, and the idea of permanence. This level presents a more introspective and idealised representation of memory, where contemplation, nostalgia, and the reinterpretation of lived experience converge.
Themes of memory, identity, and symbolic inheritance
“ELBA” encourages visitors to reflect on family bonds, the construction of identity, and the relationship between body, memory, and symbolic inheritance. Villalba’s work invites a sensitive dialogue between the personal and the collective, merging intimate storytelling with broader cultural questions. The exhibition combines digital photography and video installation, with works printed on photographic paper and textile supports. Curated by Carlos Sosa, it offers a rich sensory and conceptual experience that blends aesthetic exploration with narrative depth.
About the artist
Raúl Villalba (Asunción, 1975) is an accomplished photographer and educator, known for his work in artistic photography and training. He has held solo exhibitions in Paraguay and abroad, including Tu Silencio, En Mis Venas, Habitación 401, and Quereme. His artistic practice explores the body, memory, and emotions, integrating symbolic and narrative elements.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Villalba has played a pivotal role in education and cultural management. Raúl Villalba is the founder of the photography school El Faro Eduka. Also, he has taught at multiple institutions, including the Instituto Superior de Bellas Artes, contributing to the development of future generations of photographers in Paraguay.
“ELBA” promises to be a visually striking exhibition that resonates with universal themes of love, memory, and the ties that shape our identities. And while you are in Asunción this April, do not miss your last chance to experience the captivating Caro Vinader exhibition, which closes this month!
