The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and the general director of the la Caixa Foundation, Josep Maria Coronas, signed an agreement this Thursday to bring the works of the foundation’s contemporary art collection to the Spanish embassies in the main European capitals. The pact outlines a multi-year itinerant plan with which some of the most representative works of Spanish art between 1925 and 1976 in the collection will tour different cities in Europe. The first exhibition resulting from this agreement will open in the coming months at the Spanish Embassy in Berlin. The exhibition, titled Fragments, quotes and passages. Contemporary Art Collection of the la Caixa Foundation, It is made up of fifteen paintings and sculptures by Spanish creators of the 20th century who stood out for their quality and international relevance. Fragments, quotes and passages includes pieces by Spanish artists present in collections of important national and international museums and that have been widely referenced in publications.
The itinerary begins with the work The lion (1925), by Joan Miró, an example of his initial forays into surrealism. It continues with paintings by Joan Ponç and Modest Cuixart, from the Dau al Set group, one of the first collectives to move away from official art with a sensitivity close to surrealism.
The sample continues with the piece The kiss – Motherhood (1951), by Eudald Serra, pioneer of the postwar sculptural avant-garde; and continues with works by members of the El Paso group and Informalism -Manuel Millares, Luis Feito, Martín Chirino, Gustavo Torner and Antoni Tàpies-, who were pioneers in the international recognition of Spanish art in the mid-20th century. The exhibition also features paintings and sculptures of an abstract and personal nature, such as those by Jorge Oteiza and Eduardo Chillida. The tour ends with the sculpture Menina-Miró (1976) by Equipo Crónica, which embodies the vindictive and ironic side of the new European realism. The project is curated by Oscar Pina, head of content for the ArtHub and Collection Department of the la Caixa Foundation.
Roaming and sustainability
Fragments, quotes and passages It will be inaugurated in the coming months at the Spanish Embassy in Berlin, where it can be visited until autumn. He will later travel to the embassies in Paris, London and Brussels, with dates yet to be determined. The itinerant exhibition has been planned applying efficiency and sustainability criteria in all phases of the project: from the selection of responsible materials to a modular design that optimizes resources and facilitates assembly at each venue. Furthermore, the installation will be carried out with a small and specialized team of professionals, with Spanish assemblers and designers and some local technicians to minimize travel and promote the economy of the environment.
The foundation’s commitment to the dissemination of cultural heritage is not new, and is reflected in the contemporary art collection created in 1985. With nearly 1,100 pieces and an international vocation, it brings together artists such as Gerhard Richter, Antoni Tàpies, Cindy Sherman, Doris Salcedo and Mona Hatoum. It promotes both its own projects and collaborations with large museums and cultural centers, and is considered one of the most relevant in Europe in the private sphere.