1946
Francesc Cabanyes i Collell was born in Serinyà (Pla de l' Estany) on the 28th of September. His parents were tenant farmers and they lived in Centenys and later in Porqueres. Like his father, Xicu Cabanyes had to start work at the age of 12.
1962
Working in a carpenter's workshop, he started to become interested, in a self-taught way, in the world of carving and did his first works. He also modelled with clay, with highly stylised figures, Giacometti style.
1965
He was given advice by the sculptor Domènec Fita. He did abstract constructions and reliefs in sheet metal. He did his first exhibition.
1969
He formulated a personal language, with organic shapes, montages, pop and surreal references. He worked on plaster models, wood and fibreglass, in small or medium format.
1970
He did a collection of linoleums of an expressionist nature.
1972
Founder of the Grup Tint, in Banyoles, which for years would be a cultural and artistic point of reference both in Banyoles, as well as, above all in its second phase (Tint-2) all over Catalonia, with colloquium shows, highly innovative conferences on visual arts and communication. He also participated in the popular manifestations of opposition to the Franco regime and was founder of the group that promoted the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Lands of Catalonia.
1973
He started his concrete phase, making his first monumental sculptures (“Bindings” series). He did collages and experimented with new materials: polyesters resins and latex, with series such as the “Kangaroo Woman”. Exhibition-Colloquium in Girona with Jaume Fàbrega.
1974
He did terracotta work. Series on the behaviour of soft materials “Folds and Wrinkles”.
1975
He left the world of commercial exhibitions and set up in Can Ginebreda Forest, installing his first sculptures and integrated works there. He started the construction of The Saints' Dome. “Running Down and Violations” series.
1976
He experimented with new kinds of moulds with snow and Porexpan (“La Molina” series).
1977
He became interested in the shapes of water as a plastic material and started to do sculptures and models that included running water. With Esteve Palmada, he filmed the short film Mechanics and Poetics of Water.
1978
He did the series “Crosses and Niches” with concrete. A period of large sculptures from the “Love and Death Games” series.
1979
Large panels with base relief in carved wood, with themes about life, death, oppression and release.
First edition of the Party in the Forest, which takes place every year at the end of the summer. He did fungible sculptures and vegetable moulds. “Arches and Frames” series in aluminium.
1981
He organised the “1st open-air sculpture stay. Practical and theoretical course on initiation to moulding”.
He went back to doing exhibitions (“Constructions in a Block”). “Death and Disfiguration of Geometry” series. “Fellatio Chalice” action on the cathedral steps in Girona. “12 Photographs in Can Ginebreda Forest” exhibition, Sala Spectrum, Girona.
1982
Publication of the monograph Xicu Cabanyes, Sculptures in the Open Air, by Jaume Fàbrega, presented at Llibreria 22, Girona.
1983
Installation in Banyoles of the monumental sculpture “To the National Reconstruction of Catalonia”. He worked on the “Along the Gothic Paths” series.
1984
On the occasion of the installation of the “Birth of the Life-Tree” sculpture in Girona, the conservative opposition of the city set up a campaign against it.
1985
Construction of the workshop in the Forest and of the Mural with moulded buttocks (“Wall of the Turgidity”). Construction of a table and pergola, with painting by Kim Domene. Organiser, with Jaume Fàbrega, of the exhibition “Giròtica”, Girona and Olot.
1986
“Núdica Brava” action in the bay, Cala del Senyor Ramon, Costa Brava.
1987
Publication of the first edition of a poster with photographs of his work. Diverse projects of “Death and Disfiguration of Geometry”.
1988
Opening of HOSTAL CAN GINEBREDA restaurant and art gallery and beginning of the exhibitions and other statements. Barraca and Anna Manel·la mural paintings.
1989
Installation of the monumental sculpture “The Lips” in Stockholm. Sculpture “Now I Can” in Andorra.
1991
He exhibited in Altadt, the Federal Republic of Germany.
1992
“The Hooks” or Olympic sculpture in the Parc de la Draga in Banyoles. He worked on the “High-Heeled Shoe” and “Requiem for a Time that is Coming to an End” (wood and paintings on sheet metal) and “Pleated Skirts” series. He worked with pressed cardboard.
1993
Supper-chats were held in the Restaurant, with the presence of well-known politicians, journalists, artists and authors. Concentration of potters (Rakú Festival).
1994
He started to invite other sculptors to place a work in the access path to the forest: Ramon Caus, Torres Monsó, Bernd Zimmermann, Fita, Mauro, Joan Viñas, Quim Hereu, Pep Prat, Lluís Vilà, Jaume Roser, Francesc Masós, Joan Hugas, Villèlia and others.
5th annual concentration of artists, with the motive “Let's Paint the Sun” (painted parasols, Restaurant).
1995
Pictorial action in the Forest “Painting pines the Ibarrola way” with painting of trees and the participation of diverse artists.
Sculpture in Savigno, Italy. Sculpture in Tävi, Sweden.
1996
Series of jewels “Handwriting of Nervousness”, with Mauro Rubio. “Pieces of Time” series, done in wood.
8th Party in the Forest, with the subject “Review of the Sardana”.
1997
Celebration of the Great Memory Festival “100 Artists Remembering the Bauhaus” in the Forest (Mural in the entrance).
“Pregnant Women” series.
1998
“Tunnels and Viaducts”, “Bunkers” and “The Hanging City” series.
Party in the forest dedicated to the theatre “A Day at the Theatre”.
Publication of the book Xicu Cabanyes, Forest of Sculptures, by Jaume Fàbrega.
He continued with sculptures, most of which were in large format, at Can Ginebreda Forest, with more than a hundred works.
1999…2008
Shooting of the film La dona sense ànima (The Woman without a Soul), 1998
Participation in the Thuir biennial, 2004
“Itongs” 40-centimetre sculptural pieces, 2007
Installation of two sculptures in Stockholm, 2008
“El triomf del morbo” (The Triumph of Morbidity) Collection (6 sculptures)