This work was conceived and presented in an exhibition comprised of a selection of pieces by the artist Gabriel Sánchez Viveros, inspired by the book "The Story of Ferdinand," written in 1936 by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. This story tells of a bull who overcomes imposed stereotypes to fight for who he truly is and what makes him happy.

The story recounts the life of Ferdinand, a fighting bull bred for bullfighting. From a young age, he showed an interest in observing nature and smelling flowers, which set him apart from his peers. In the story, Ferdinand is stung by a bee while being watched by recruiters. His reaction to the pain makes him appear the most agile, strong, and brave, which is why he is chosen to participate in a bullfight in Madrid. However, Ferdinand does not turn out as expected; he reveals his true nature, being gentle and peaceful. Thus, he wins the support of the crowd in the Las Ventas bullring and is granted a pardon. In the end, they decide to return him to his home in the Andalusian countryside so he can live a happy life contemplating nature and smelling the fragrance of flowers.

This story was published shortly before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in a war-torn environment, becoming a controversial book for several years. Various politicians expressed their opinions on it, and it was even banned in some countries. Mahatma Gandhi chose it as his favorite book because of its pacifist nature, as it promotes peace and, with it, tolerance, acceptance, and respect for oneself and others. The themes of this book are the reason why these paintings and sculptures by Gabriel Sánchez Viveros were chosen. These works are part of the series “ROT,” “Flora’s Soul,” and “The Origin,” which reflect his approach to nature, colors, stories, and contrasts.

Gabriel Sánchez Viveros presents this reinterpretation of the work under a curatorial approach that proposes rereading it from different perspectives, inviting viewers to interpret the forms and pictorial contrasts. Mounted as an installation, this exhibition departs from the traditional framework of interpretation to become an experience that invites the viewer to immerse themselves in the contemplation of flowers and nature, just as Ferdinando did.