Art and nature are two powerful forces in constant evolution. In Bizkaia there is a work of Art and Nature that materializes this fusion: El Bosque de Oma, a work created by the Biscayan artist Agustín Ibarrola in the 1980s.
The Oma Forest, located in the Biscayan town of Kortezubi located in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, is much more than a mere work of art on a living canvas; is a game of perspective that challenges and captivates each visitor, it is an example of how art can uniquely interact with those who explore it.
The pine plantation on which the artistic work of El Bosque de Oma was built in its original location was at the end of its life cycle at the beginning of the 21st century, and the state of the forest was aggravated mainly due to the disease of the 'brown band'. The fall of several specimens from the forest caused its closure for safety reasons in 2018.
To continue the work of Agustín Ibarrola, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia began a process of analysis on the future of the Forest, together with a team of multidisciplinary experts and the support of the Ibarrola family, which has culminated in the migration of this unique creation. to a new location.
The Forest of Oma is not a replica, it is the transfer of Agustín Ibarrola's idea to a new, larger canvas, in which it emerges again with recovered and more extensive artistic groups.
The migration of El Bosque to another location is a unique and innovative project in the world of contemporary art that allows the continuity and survival of Ibarrola's work, bringing together more appropriate characteristics to offer a full, more complete and rich experience, which brings to those who Visit it to soak up its magic.
With this process of transferring artistic groups to the new location, the Forest more faithfully reflects the artist's original idea, since some of the groups take on a greater dimension, something that Agustín Ibarrola could not do at the time due to having a number of trees more limited. The Oma Forest is reopened to the fullest public as it now houses all the documented artistic groups that have existed since its inception.
The Forest is the result of a detailed investigation consisting of a re-reading of the artistic work that has resulted in a project composed of 34 artistic groups captured in nearly 800 trees.
The project to migrate the paintings to a new location is a testament to the commitment of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia to the preservation of art and nature, and represents a milestone in the history of contemporary art. The result is a more sustainable and three times larger Oma Forest.
A total of one and a half kilometers of artistic route complete a walk full of emotions, an experience through a fascinating world of creativity and nature that immerses visitors in a game of perspective that challenges your senses and stimulates your imagination. Figures and colors come to life as you progress, and the interaction between art and nature becomes an immersive experience.
This artistic tour invites you to explore, discover and connect with the work and the natural environment that surrounds it. It is a journey that is not only enjoyed visually, but also awakens curiosity and emotion as the figures, images and hidden meanings in Ibarrola's work are interpreted.
The Provincial Council of Bizkaia, aware of the importance of preserving El Bosque de Oma, its surroundings and offering a quality experience to people who visit it, has opted for sustainable management of this iconic place. To guarantee harmony between visits and conservation, the Provincial Institution has implemented a system of visits with prior reservation through the website bizkaia.eus/es/bosque-oma and a shuttle bus service, on weekends from Gernika -Lumo to the Santimamiñe parking lot.
Those who want to discover El Bosque de Oma can do so in different ways, either through a free visit or a guided tour. In both cases it is essential to book your ticket online to guarantee a unique experience. Visitors will have to validate their entry at the Santimamiñe-Oma service point one hour before the reserved visit. At that moment the walk from Santimamiñe to El Bosque de Oma will begin, a walking tour that extends for approximately 3 kilometers and is completed in around 50 minutes.
The Oma Forest is a constant invitation to exploration, imagination and surprise, it is a place where the visitor is not a mere observer, but an active participant in the constantly evolving narrative that is The Oma Forest.
