ARCO 2018: A FEW ARTWORKS

 

Pedro Barateiro. Relaxed Capital (2018).
Pedro Barateiro. Relaxed Capital (2018).

The end of February in Madrid is devoted to art. The city holds ARCO, it’s most famous contemporary art fair and city fills up with many alternative art encounters from Urvanity (this year held at the beautiful COAM) to JustMAD. All excellent alternatives to enjoy around the city.

This year ARCO its been peculiar for two reasons: it didn’t have a guest country, the main theme instead was: Future. With a total of 211 galleries from 29 countries, 160 make up the General Programme, in addition to the curated sections: “The future is not what’s going to happen, but what we’re going to do”, you can read in their website, as part of their manifesto.

And for the first time in history it censored an artwork: Santiago Sierra’s piece “Political Prisoners in Contemporary Spain”. The work consists of 24 pixellated photographs, including images of the deposed Catalan vice-president, Oriol Junqueras, and two leading figures in influential Catalan pro-independence groups, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, aka “los Jordis”.

Photo via The Guardian.
Photo via The Guardian.

Although the censorship was not explicit as it was the exhibition centre’s operator, Ifema, who suggested the removal of the piece as it might “affect the visibility” of other art on the show, Spain was already having a complicated week in regard to ‘freedom of expression’ and this move, obviously, didn’t help its cause. Instead, as expected, Sierra of course already sold his work and a Museum in Lleida (Catalunya) is planning to hold an exhibition.

But there was more to see in ARCO and I thought I could share here some of the art pieces that I like the most (:

 

Kim Simonsson. Mossgirl and mossboy with birdhouse (Ceramics, Nylonfibre, feathers).
Kim Simonsson. Mossgirl and mossboy with birdhouse (It’s: Ceramics, Nylonfibre, feathers).

 

Fragment of a Carlos Cruz Diez Physichromies.
Fragment of a Carlos Cruz Diez Physichromies.

 

Louise Bourgeois' The Happy Family (2001).
Louise Bourgeois’ The Happy Family (2001).

 

Christian Jankowski. Visitors. Congratulations (2010)
Christian Jankowski. Visitors. Congratulations (2010)

 

Dora Longo Bahía. A policía vai, a policía vem # 20.
Dora Longo Bahía. A policía vai, a policía vem. Fragment.

 

Katja Angeli. Here's looking at you, kid (2017)
Katja Angeli. Here’s looking at you, kid (2017)

 

Jan Fabre. Brain with Star (2012).
Jan Fabre. Brain with Star (2012).

 

Julian Rosefeld. Manifesto (Manuel Maples Arce) 2015/2017
Julian Rosefeld. Manifesto (Manuel Maples Arce) 2015/2017

 

Dan Flavin. Untitled (2017).
Dan Flavin. Untitled (2017).

 

One of my faves, glad I discovered him: Francisco Maniel Peralta Ramos.
One of my faves, glad I discovered him: Francisco Maniel Peralta Ramos.

 

It looks a lot better in person. Didier Faustino. Brave New World (2017).
It looks a lot better in person. Didier Faustino. Brave New World (2017).

 

Marcel Dzama. La révolution sera fémenine (2017)
Marcel Dzama. La révolution sera fémenine (2017)

 

I'm not immune to selfies, I'm only human. This is me in front of Jeppe Hein's You Make Me Wonder (1974).
I’m not immune to selfies, I’m only human. This is me in front of Jeppe Hein’s You Make Me Wonder (1974).

Recommended Articles