Pedro Madueño
CATALONIA
Born in Córdoba 1961, Pedro Madueño began his career as a press photographer in 1975 with the local magazine GRAMA in Santa Coloma de Gramenet. He later collaborated with many newspaper then joining La Vanguardia in 1983, where he worked until 2023.
Over 40 years, he worked as a photographer, with the last eight years as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, reporting directly to the director with responsibility for the image area. He has been awarded the FotoPress prize seven times, the Laus de Oro for photography (ADG-FAD), the Godó Photography Prize, an Award of Excellence from the Society for News Design (SND), and the first photography prize from the Vila Casas Foundation (2011).
He has served as an associate professor at the Escola de Fotografía de la Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya and at Pompeu Fabra University, and has taught postgraduate courses at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. He was president of the jury for the Godó Photojournalism Prize of the Conde de Barcelona Foundation.
Together with La Vanguardia, he initiated the so-called "consensus photo," where he photographed electoral candidates, a tradition in Catalonia. He is the author of the official portrait of Prince Felipe of Bourbon and Greece (2002-2010) and the official portrait of the President of the Generalitat, Artur Mas. He also photographed Salvador Dalí during the last three years of the artist’s life.
Some of his works are held in the collections of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Vila Casas Foundation in Barcelona.
• SERIES •
Sapiens
The “Sapiens” series began when Cristina Jolonch, a colleague from La Vanguardia, introduced Pedro to Ferran Adrià.
She warned him that Ferran spoke quickly and could be hard to follow—his mind racing ahead of his words.
Pedro first photographed Ferran in the legendary kitchen of El Bulli, where the intensity was palpable. Despite juggling many tasks, Ferran, with his serious expression and thoughtful demeanor, proved to be affable, warm, respectful, creative, and innovative.
Among the many figures Pedro has photographed, only Salvador Dalí had previously radiated an overwhelming aura. He found that same high-voltage energy in Ferran Adrià.
This exhibition at InCadaqués is the fruit of multiple encounters with Ferran, who has always been patient and collaborative. As a subject, Ferran is easy to photograph but immediately challenges you. You must know exactly what you want—any hesitation, and he might "devour" you between courses. Ferran's mind moves faster than most, a true ”Sapiens”.
