'Think with your heart', Boa Mistura
The stamp of each year: a sea of faithful questions the sovereignty of the thirtysomething ** ARCO ** and the potential harmony with the guest country (this year Turkey promises). Meanwhile, many others realize their dabbling in the basement of the Hotel Silken Puerta América, strolling through Just Madrid which, in its fourth edition, is already full of compliments and suitors. But there is more: the third date in discord, the Benjamin Art Madrid reached 40,000 visitors in 2012. In its eighth year, it promises a careful collection of national contemporary art, distributed in the 39 galleries of the Chamartín Station penthouse.
Whatever your choice, we recommend you get out of the pot and throw yourself out on the street (or to the vastness of the web) to find newly minted treasures. Galleries that have decided to leave the usual circuit to respond to a public thirsty for new sensitivities and large doses of courage as a creative tool. If this month is something like the orchard of contemporary art in the capital, in these young galleries it is February all year long:
GUNTER GALLERY
The art that wanted to be democratic... and it was. With this premise, what they say is the first online graphic art gallery was made known. In its virtual space, we can acquire works by illustrators, graffiti artists, and plastic artists such as Santiago Morilla, the Boamistura collective, Silvia Prada, Ricardo Cavolo, Iván Solbes, Uriginal, or Littleisdrawing, which are sold in silkscreen, photoengraving, engraving, or collage format.
Sometimes, they launch into physical spaces ("art is to be seen and enjoyed 20 centimeters from your pupil"). Like this Friday, February 15, when they inaugurate #somosgunter , in Doctor Fourquet, 18. But, what factor democratizes the work? Indeed the price. And it is on this plot that Gunter Gallery declares itself the winner. Unique and affordable pieces with the same standards as in a physical gallery. In front, Amalio, Marta and Mario agree on three maxims: art is no longer part of the great fortunes , the new generation of national artists is talented and, furthermore, knows how to take risks and, finally, the acquisition of a work of art pursues an unquestionable goal, to make us a little happier.
Nick Cave from Little Is Drawing
TWIN STUDIO & GALLERY
The studio-gallery celebrates one year in one of the neighborhoods with the most bohemians per square meter of the city (San Hermenegildo, 28). Supported by art, design and communication professionals, it takes risks with new disciplines linked to avant-garde art developed by artists such as José Luis Serzo, Marina Nuñez, Samuel Salcedo, Oscar Seco, Enrique Marty or Gonzalo Rueda. From January 17, it hosts the second part of the collective exhibition a rare visitor which, under the supervision of commissioner Blinky R. Rodríguez, investigates the so-called 'story art': embraces concepts such as science fiction, horror and the fantastic. You have until March 8 to soak up its bizarre aesthetic. The exhibition will conclude with the edition of a fanzine that will illustrate the life of this rare visitor.
Immerse yourself in bizarre aesthetics
'The Secret Twin Gallery'
VALVERDE SPACE **(JUST MADRID 2013) **
The 60 square meters of the Malasañera gallery (Valverde, 30) have recreated the worlds of, among others, Juan Saliquet, Alfredo Rodriguez, Elena Alonso, Ceesepe, Luis Úrculo, Ricardo Cavolo (again), Eames Demetrios, María Blanco Cobaleda, Shu Kubo and Pablo Padilla Jargstorf. Since February 9, the universe of the Madrid-born artist Luis Asín, trained in the United States, has been exhibited in the exhibition Outcome .
The Space accumulates years of impeccable reputation: variety, quality, independence and versatility. Count on a bookstore and a cozy patio , an absolute attraction during openings and the stage for concerts, summer movies and gatherings. its directors, Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart and Asela Pérez They have won over the residents of Madrid's modernist neighborhood. Perhaps because, beyond the exhibition program, its facet of artistic shakers It feeds on several outdoor performances (in Madrid, Segovia and Soria). And they can boast of having worn palm hearts at international fairs such as ** HotArt **, in Basel, Cutlog , in Paris. This year, they repeat Just Madrid.
Variety, quality, independence and versatility
HARE GALLERY **(JUST MADRID 2013) **
In October 2011, facing the unbeatable Ivorypress Art+Books, Two diaphanous floors opened to the public, bare to a small alley. At the head of the project, a cast of art teachers, artists and scholars willing to demolish false myths. First, galleries can leave the 'star' neighborhoods without diminishing the quality (or popularity). The second, bet on talent , beyond the materials, techniques or objects used in the creative process. Do not stop. In less than two years, they have been present at leading national fairs (Mulafest, Arte Santander and, this week, at Just Madrid).
They accommodate short exhibitions (both monographic and collective), book presentations, fanzines, conferences, theme nights... Their list of artists includes underground avant-garde and a brave proposal in new formats , be it Laramascoto, Yes, Sandra Paula Fernández, Bonus-Extra, Estefanía Martín, Juan Luis Cerrajero, Chefer or Luis Pérez Calvo.
Underground avant-garde and new formats
MAD IS MAD
It was in September 2005, when this space in Chueca (Pelayo, 48) greeted an already wealthy and art-sensitive neighborhood. Until today, 120 artists have passed through its halls: young promises such as Aitor Saraiba, Ricardo Cavolo, Cristina Busto, Julio Falagan, Lidia Toga or Berta Salinas and safe bets such as Isabel Muñoz, Jose Manuel Ballester, Luis Úrculo or Oscar Mariné. They bet on young art , understood as a clean view of reality, where the freshness and spontaneity form part of the artist's sensibility, the irony represents an instrument of ingenuity and the experimentation is a reflection of what happens in the streets. His exhibitions, more friendly to the collective, last over time, a trend that takes hold among the new ones.
Nevertheless, 'The back room' It is conceived for monographs of artists with integral mixed media projects. Highly recommend your corner of author objects.
freshness and spontaneity
WATDAFAC GALLERY
It appeared in the center of the capital (Gran Vía 26, 6th right) last spring. As a gallery and as an instigating platform of new tendencies, ** Watdafac ** leans towards singular techniques and unpublished supports, more akin to street art than brainy studio work ; In addition to promoting the culture of "do it yourself".
It houses a store, accommodates artistic events of all kinds, workshops and exhibitions; and they assume a non-conformist nature with clear **influences from punk, from the world of illustration and comics, from pop, and from Art Brut**. The creations of Claire Duport, Jose Punzón or Jon Boam have been seen on its walls. Until March 7, they show off the works of the New York scene's standard-bearers: Heather Benjamin and Alexander Heir in 'Die a sad death'.
*You may also be interested...
- All art articles
- All about museums and art galleries around the globe
- Interview with Ricardo Cavolo
- Bookstores (with art) where you can be inspired in Madrid
- Guide to Madrid
- All articles of Sara Morillo
Alexander Heir in 'Die a sad death'