“Second Wind, 2005”. James Turrell. 2009
The first thing you come across is some old military barracks. That, and an area between pine forests enabled to park the car. Little else is visible to the naked eye: the confusion is absolute.
However, hidden among nature and much closer than you imagine, everything awaits you a universe of creativity and ingenuity materialized in fascinating works of art. Contemporary, you understand.
pieces made by the most prestigious world-renowned artists —Susana Solano, Adel Abdessemed, Marina Abramovic, Maurizio Cattelan…—, but also by those newcomers of different nationalities who, from this little corner of Vejeriego, are offered an immense opportunity: to exhibit alongside their most admired idols.
Today, more than forty site-specific interventions —made specifically and exclusively for this place—, make up the permanent collection of the NMAC , although many other works have passed through him.
Quasi Brick Wall. Olafur Eliasson. 2003
The most striking thing is that it is only six kilometers from Vejer, that Cadiz town that steals so many hearts with its whitewashed houses and twisted alleys in the heart of the La Janda region.
Specifically, at kilometer 42.5 of the N-340. These are the coordinates of the meadow of Montenmedio, headquarters of the NMAC Montenmedio Contemporary Art Foundation, where the most unexpected artistic expression is welcomed. Prettier. More surprising.
The initiative started from the hand of the Blázquez family, a native of Cádiz, back in 2001. Lovers of the arts in all their representations, they decided to take over what until then had been military land —hence the barracks, of course— to transform it into an immense exhibition space that would break with everything seen until then in the area.
A corner of the world, under the open sky, that would serve as a place of interaction with the social, cultural and territorial context, where to experiment, test, create and dream. Dream a lot.
Exterior NMAC of the NMAC Foundation
Those rough barracks today are also part of this open-air museum. One of them works as a reception: modified by the artist Michael Lin , in it the entrance is paid and a map of the place is received.
Another, works as a library —contains more than three thousand specialized volumes on contemporary art—. Some of them hide real gems in the form of totally unexpected artistic installations: from video creations to performances, photographs or sculptures find their shelter in them.
A preview? Hamman, by Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping , is extraordinary.
"Ridiculous Sequence". MP&MP Pink. 2002
However, the fun comes when, map in hand, you dare to enter the thickness of the Mediterranean pine forest that stretches out before you. Another great luck is that the museum is located in the vicinity of the Breña and Marismas de Barbate Natural Park, a wonder that adds points.
The path to follow is the one marked by the yellow mushrooms: They are the ones in charge of moving you to a parallel universe in which, like Dorothy, you must try to understand the landscape that surrounds you and thus learn the art that will open up in your path. Everything complements each other: everything is connected.
Treasures like Sky's Impression, that huge staggered ellipse from the imagination of Gunilla Bandolin, that she stars in pictures and photos on Instagram. As soon as you see it, you will understand why.
In it you will end up sitting down—everyone does it, we do it—to internalize the meaning of it: symbolizes that contrast between the rainiest and most fertile months, and those dry and torrid lived in the area. In the distance, on the horizon, the eternal windmills of the Cadiz coast accompany the scene.
Planson Duty Free. Pascale Martine Tayou
not very distant, the curious wall of bricks and mirrors by Olafur Eliasson —Quasi brick Wall, 2002— will hypnotize you, while with the Plansone Duty Free by Pascale Marthine Tayou, an immense futuristic installation in the form of a carousel from which hang objects brought both from Cameroon and from the province of Cádiz, you will let the minutes pass watching each piece rock by the Atlantic breeze.
The trees on whose bark Aleksandra Mir's love stories have been marked will accompany you for much of the way until suddenly, when you least expect it, a beautiful bridge with Andalusian roots and oriental details will rise between trees and bushes to drive you crazy.
"But what is this?". well this is Bridge, the contribution of the Chinese artist Shen Yuan to the project and a metaphor for the difficulties that diverse cultures must overcome before influencing each other.
Quasi Brick Wall. Olafur Eliasson. 2003
However, and although the surprises do not stop at the NMAC, there is an installation that will overwhelm you immensely: it does it with everyone and it will do it with you too. Is about Second Wind, the impressive work of the great —enormous— James Turrell, also known as “the sculptor of light”.
And it will captivate you not only because of its dimensions, which are absolutely huge. Nor because of its way of blending in with the environment: it is dug into the ground and will not let you discover it until once you are immersed in it.
It will not conquer you because of the evocative power of the tunnel that takes you into the heart of the work, nor because of the waterfalls, nor because of its incredible way of playing with light: **it will do so because of that perfect combination of details with which it plays as Few know how to do it. It is simply spectacular. **
“Second Wind, 2005”. James Turrell. 2009
The Madrid Pact by Fernando Sánchez Castillo and his semi-buried figures, Incense and Myrrh by Susana Solano, the Modified Social Banks by the Dane Jeppe Hein or the Viga Mádre by Jacobo Castellano, are other great installations that give away the way in which surrealism will be your most faithful companion.
"Mother Beam". James Castilian. 2019
A little further on, after following a path that takes you around one of the golf courses in the area, more wonders. One of them is Salam-Europe!, by Adel Abdessemed, a work with which the Algerian artist criticizes the terrible aspect of immigration, border crossings and the lack of freedom.
A coil of barbed wire hits and produces the desired effect: raise awareness about the situation that many people around the world are forced to live.
Salam Europe. Adel Abdessemed. 2006
Of course, one of the jewels of the foundation, ideal to end the visit, is given by the very Marina Abramovic —Honorary Patron of the foundation, by the way—, who in 2001 created Human Nests.
From a viewpoint, and there in the distance, you will contemplate its seven cavities excavated in the wall of an abandoned quarry. Hanging from them, stairs made of natural fibers by artisans from the area complete the work.
Here the best thing you can do is dedicate yourself to observing, relaxing and enjoying... Or continue a little longer to contemplate, near the parking lot, another of the works that she left in the foundation as a legacy: The Hero is an image that shows her riding a white horse while holding a flag.
“Human Nests”. Marina Abramovich. 2001
To experience the multiple and new relationships that are established with nature through the original artistic interventions of the NMAC Foundation, The most pleasant thing is to lose yourself at your leisure through its different spaces. Mark your own route without haste. Of course, there are as many options as you want: guided tours and workshops are also organized from its headquarters.
One more detail? Admission is 5 euros —kids don't pay— and the first Sunday of every month, it's free.
“Human Nests”. Marina Abramovich. 2001
“Second Wind, 2005”. James Turrell. 2009