ALBERTO PORTA-ZUSH-EVRU

A Letter to the Universe. 

Alberto Porta (Barcelona, 1946–2025), known as Zush between 1968 and 2001 and later as Evru (2001–2025), was an internationally renowned contemporary visual artist who collaborated with major institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and IDIBAPS (Barcelona). His unique and inimitable career was built on absolute freedom and the creation of his own universe: the Evrugo Mental State, an imaginary state with its own flag, currency, alphabet, and sole inhabitant (himself). His work stood alongside that of visionary creators from around the world, breaking down the boundaries between art, madness, and lucidity.

Through figures constructed between the anthropomorphic and the symbolic, Zush gave shape to the beings that populated Evrugo, creatures born from the encounter between psychedelia, comics, and the magical-surrealist tradition of Dau al Set. His work, always on the border between art, science, and mysticism, defied any conventional classification.

On February 23, 2001, during the TECURA exhibition at the MACBA in Barcelona, Zush “disappeared,” giving way to the birth of Evru, defined as ARTCIENMIST: artist, scientist, and mystic. His metamorphosis was a declaration of principles, a reaffirmation of art as a state of mind, as energy in constant transformation.

Being a resident of Evrugo Mental State means being able to send letters to the Universe. It means breaking the mold, greeting friends with a scratch on the head, talking to a synthesizer, turning the world upside down, and feeding yourself in a different way. It is a vital zigzag, a dialogue with bells, an embodiment of freedom.

The exhibition “A Letter to the Universe” is not a tribute, but a thank you. A recognition for allowing us to be part of Evrugo Mental State and reminding us that one day, that letter will bring us together again.

This exhibition presents sculptures, paintings, and drawings from different moments in the artist’s career, offering a broad and vibrant vision of his personal universe and the evolution of his visual language over time.

His works, which have already been presented at the Sao Paulo Biennial (1967) and Documenta in Kassel (1977), form part of prestigious collections such as MACBA (Barcelona), the Reina Sofía Museum (Madrid), IVAM (Valencia), the FNAC (Paris), and the MOMA and Guggenheim (New York), among many others.

This exhibition celebrates Zush-Evru’s legacy and his ability to inhabit that space between the analog and the digital, between reason and reverie. An invitation to continue sending letters to the Universe from Evrugo.