Suburbia: The American Dream Under Scrutiny at CCCB Barcelona

The CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona) presents 'Suburbia', a major exhibition examining the rise and fall of the American suburban dream. Curated by Catalan journalist Philipp Engel, the show traces the development of white middle-class suburbs from the 1950s, inspired by F.D. Roosevelt's vision of a nation of homeowners. It features documentary material, paintings, photographs, films, advertisements, and everyday objects like mid-century appliances. The exhibition reveals controversial aspects, including racial tensions as suburbs opened to African American and Asian families in the late 1960s, and the subsequent decline into unsafe, oppressive environments. Artists such as Gregory Crewdson, Alberto Ortega, Gabriele Galimberti, and Angela Strassheim depict the dark side of suburbia. A section on 'McMansions', curated by Kate Wagner, critiques the oversized, poor-quality homes of the 1980s and 1990s. The show concludes with a reflection on post-suburbia and environmental impact, featuring a photo report by Christopher Willan on contemporary Catalan suburbs. Runs until September 8, 2024.