I, DE SOBTE, L’ATZAR. Incerteses, destins i casualitats en la Col·lecció MACBA

Az-zahr was a popular dice game in Al-Andalus and other Islamic regions during the Middle Ages. It appears that its name, which means flower in Arabic, referred to the orange blossom flower drawn on one of the faces of the dice.

The game consisted of rolling the dice and seeing whether the face marked with az-zahr came up. Thus, this is said to be the etymological origin of the word chance (atzar).

Starting from a notion as complex as chance, this exhibition sets out to journey through everything we attribute to coincidence, destiny or uncertainty, everything that seems to be the result of contingency. The exhibition "I, DE SOBTE, L’ATZAR.

Incerteses, destins i casualitats en la Col·lecció MACBA" proposes a look at the concept of chance from different perspectives, places or meanings. It is approached from the eruption of an abrupt, uncontrollable, unexpected event. Like an event that escapes us and is alien to us.

The participating artists are: Joan Brossa, Luz Broto, Joana Cera, Joan Jonas, Teresa Margolles, Martín Llavaneras, Fina Miralles, Joan Ponc, Sergio Prego, Enrique Ramírez, Allan Sekula and Oriol Vilanova. Check further information about the exhibition "I, DE SOBTE, L’ATZAR.

Incerteses, destins i casualitats en la Col·lecció MACBA" on the Diputació de Barcelona website. Last update: 18/09/2026