Body and Earth

Body and Earth is an exhibition that invites reflection on the intrinsic connection between humans and the Earth, exploring our symbiosis with the natural environment. Antonia Penia’s work highlights the fundamental bond we share with all living beings, a connection often overlooked. Through four main sections, the exhibition addresses contemporary issues such as climate change and the human impact on the planet, leading the viewer into a deep reflection on our responsibility towards the environment.

Antonia Penia is an award-winning visual artist and photographer who expresses her creative vision through photography, video, and performance. These mediums allow her to explore new realities and provoke reflections on human existence. Her work is influenced by cultural references from her daily life, delving into human vulnerabilities and resilience, with a particular focus on women. Her pieces reflect her own experiences as a woman in the modern world.

For Penia, the human body in art transcends physicality, becoming an expression of freedom. Far from the typical grotesque or sexualised perspectives, the body is seen as a natural extension of its surroundings, symbolising the beauty of the human spirit and our inherent need to be free.

With a profound love for nature, the sea, and the mountains, Peña finds liberation through photography, a medium that allows her to follow the desires of her heart. Her courage to challenge social norms reflects her commitment to the fight for women’s rights in a patriarchal and sexist society. She embraces her true self as an act of healing and empowerment, using her art as a therapeutic process.

Known for her bold exploration of self-portraiture, Penia’s first project, Leave Me Alone (2004), focused on the visual expression of her sexuality, which led her to collaborate with some of Spain's most prominent erotic publications. At the age of 26, she made a milestone in her career by shooting her first cover for Playboy, a brave step that defined the tone of her artistic journey.

Join us at the Instituto Cervantes in Manchester, where the exhibition will be open until 18th April 2025. The opening night promises to be an immersive experience, with a guided tour by the artist Antonia Peña, accompanied by a glass of Spanish wine.