Illusion as Escapism (2025) is an artistic research that delves into the ephemeral nature of illusion as a guiding thread for a methodology based on both photographic and theatrical exploration. Presented as the final work for the MFA in Artistic Research and Production at the University of Barcelona, this project represents a journey through the interdisciplinary boundaries between dramaturgical thought and the tangible manifestation of the performing arts.
More than the culmination of my master's studies, this work brings together all my training in theatre studies, dramaturgy, and photography, disciplines that have significantly shaped my artistic approach and inspired an ongoing research practice centered on their intersection.
With this in mind, I found it fitting to structure this study as a theatrical piece. It opens with a prologue serving as a concise introduction, followed by an overture that establishes the context and frames the central focus. The main body unfolds across two acts, gradually revealing both the origins and conclusions of this theoretical and artistic research. This format not only follows the narrative structure typical of theatre but also reflects how, in academic research, the creative process and pursuit of understanding unfold organically as data intertwine and gain meaning.
Illusion as Escapism was awarded Honours, the highest and most extraordinary grade that can be achieved in a university subject in Spain.
The development of the artwork accompanying this research is documented in detail in the project report, available online in the Universitat de Barcelona Digital Repository. This report is particularly recommended for students and artists seeking to deepen their theoretical and methodological frameworks and to explore how performing arts can intersect with other forms of representation, such as photography.