Spain's Art Scene in Crisis: Resistance and Reinvention
Amid Spain's economic turmoil and conservative policies negatively impacting cultural infrastructure, the Museo Reina Sofía, led by Manuel Borja-Villel since 2008, has received recognition for its focus on subaltern modernities and Southern viewpoints, establishing connections with Latin America through projects such as Red Conceptualismos del Sur. The Spanish art landscape is grappling with issues, notably a 21% VAT on art imposed since 2012 and an 81% reduction in contemporary art funding in 2013. Several key institutions have shut down, and in June 2013, Musac's director, Eva González-Sancho, resigned due to political meddling. Meanwhile, Doctor Fourquet street in Madrid is witnessing a resurgence, and the Arco fair has emerged as a platform for Latin American art, inspiring political works from artists like Núria Güell and Asier Mendizabal.
Key facts
- Manuel Borja-Villel became director of Museo Reina Sofía in 2008.
- Spain raised VAT on art to 21% in 2012 (France: 5.5%).
- In 2013, conservative government cut contemporary art subsidies by 81%.
- Eva González-Sancho resigned as director of Musac in León in June 2013.
- Ivam in Valencia is led by political appointee Consuelo Ciscar.
- Núria Güell's Intervención #1 (2012) hired an evicted mason to dismantle doors of bank-owned homes.
- Santiago Sierra refused the National Prize for Plastic Arts in 2012.
- Rubén Grilo's The Need for Speed (2013) used denim waste from Zara.
Entities
Artists
- Manuel Borja-Villel
- Eva González-Sancho
- Consuelo Ciscar
- Vicente Todolí
- Núria Güell
- Tania Bruguera
- Asier Mendizabal
- Francesc Ruiz
- Juan Pérez Agirregoikoa
- Rubén Grilo
- Santiago Sierra
- Esther Ferrer
- Miquel Barceló
- Miquel Mont
- Jordi Colomer
- Marta Gili
- Dora García
- Antoni Muntadas
- Martí Anson
- Lara Almarcegui
- Rosa Martínez
- Octavio Zaya
- Chus Martínez
- Manuel Fraga
- Margaret Thatcher
- Frank Kermode
- Alain Badiou
- George Stephenson
Institutions
- Museo Reina Sofía
- Red Conceptualismos del Sur
- Musac (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León)
- Frac Bourgogne
- Ivam (Institut Valencià d'Art Modern)
- Montehermoso
- Rekalde
- Santa Mònica
- Sala Montcada
- Fundación La Caixa
- Maisterravalbuena
- Nogueras Blanchard
- García Galería
- Casa Sin Fin
- Moisés Pérez de Albéniz
- Fúcares
- Helga de Alvear
- Arco
- Raven Row
- Documenta
- Circa Projects
- Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten
- Jeu de Paume
- Palais de Tokyo
- Credac
- Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers
- Énsb-a (École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts)
- Université Paris 8-Vincennes-Saint-Denis
- Bar (Barcelona residency)
- Felipamanuela
- Sweethome
- Zara
- CAM (Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo)
- El País
- Artforum
- Tate
Locations
- Spain
- Madrid
- Barcelona
- León
- Valencia
- Vitoria
- Bilbao
- Santiago de Compostela
- Paris
- London
- Newcastle
- Amsterdam
- Berlin
- Cairo
- Lugo
- Ordizia
- Girona
- Saint-Sébastien
- Doctor Fourquet street
- France
- Europe
- Latin America
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
Sources
- artpress —