ARCOmadrid
February 19–23, 2014
ARCOmadrid increases its focus on artists and creates new platforms for discussion and meetings among professionals
ARCOmadrid, which will be held February 19 to 23, will feature an increased focus on individual artists and the participation of guest curators in the fair’s special sections. Up to 60 galleries will present one or two artists in their booths as part of the Solo/Duo proposal, #SoloProjects #FocusFinland and #Opening sections. In addition, ARCOmadrid will also enjoy the participation of over 150 invited museum directors, biennial curators and leading art world professionals. These are the key features that distinguish ARCOmadrid from other art fairs: artists, curators, gallerists and collectors all have a shared role in turning ARCOmadrid into a unique experience of art and debate.
Galleries
Reflecting a renewed confidence in the contemporary art market, ARCOmadrid’s General Programme will count on the participation of 164 leading contemporary art galleries, such as Nicolai Wallner; Peter Kilchmann; Bob Van Orsouw; Micheline Szwajcer; Andersen’s Contemporary, Kewenig; Esther Schipper; Vera Munro; Mehdi Chouakri; Vermelho; Gregor Podnar or Mai 36.
ARCOmadrid’s objective of offering visitors an opportunity to see new art and gain a deeper understanding of artists and galleries will be on display in programs such as Solo/Duo, with 25 participants such as Hanne Darboven at the Crone Gallery; Julio Le Parc at Del Infinito Arte; José María Sicilia at Chantal Crousel; Jan de Cock at Deweer; or the dialogue between Luis Gordillo and Susana Solano at the Maior Gallery.
Curated sections will also include a wide selection of individual presentations. #FocusFinland will show the work of Elina Brotherus, Antti Laitinen (who represented Finland at last year’s Venice Biennial) and Heta Kuchka. Artists such as Elena Damiani, Carlos Motta, Luciana Lamothe or Pablo Rasgado will be part of #SoloProjects, and Juliana Borinski, Olve Sande and Raphael França will participate in #Opening.
A new series of round tables entitled Artists’ Talks will explore the relationship between the creation and the presentation of art works in the context of art fairs. Directed by Maria Inés Rodríguez (incoming director of CAPC in Bordeaux), the discussions that make up Artists’ Talks focus on works on view at ARCOmadid 2014 and are structured around a series of transversal dialogues among artists such as Julieta Aranda, Dora García, Jorge Méndez Blake, Felipe Arturo, Fernanda Fragateiro, Alessandro Balteo, Fernando Bryce and Dan Graham.
Art world professionals
An outstanding feature of ARCOmadrid is the presence of numerous art world professionals, including over 150 invited museum directors, biennial curators and leading art world professionals. As a result, ARCOmadrid becomes a place where ideas and projects are shared and exchanged among invited guests, artists and participating galleries.
Newly confirmed guests at ARCOmadrid include Moritz Küng, independent curator; Kasper König, Curator of Manifesta 10; and Adam Szymczyk, Curator of Documenta 14. They will join guests such as Dirk Snauwaert, Director, Wiels; Daniela Zyman, Chief Curator of Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary; Vincent Honoré, Founding Director and Chief Curator of the David Roberts Art Foundation; Julieta González, Curator of the Museo Tamayo; and Andrea Bellini, Director, Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève.
In addition, to the Professional Meetings, the Forum and the III Meeting of European and Ibero-American Museums, museum professionals from more the 15 different countries will participate in a meeting organized by ADACE (Asociación de Directores de Arte Contemporáneo de España), where they will share ideas and projects.
Madrid
Galleries and museums throughout Madrid will bring out their best exhibitions during ARCOmadrid. Exhibitions of major contemporary collections will include the ARCO Foundation Collection at the Centro de Arte Alcobendas; the Jozami Collection at the Fundación Lázaro Galdiano; and the collections of the Fundación Telefónica and the Reina Sofía National Museum and Art Center. In addition, the contemporary art of Finland will be presented in ten exhibitions and artist workshops throughout the city, such as the exhibition dedicated to Kustaa Saksi at CentroCentro, screenings by Aki Kaurismaki at the Reina Sofía, and Finnish artists in residence at Residencias El Ranchito at Matadero. Also in Madrid in February the Thyssen-Bornemisza will present a large-scale Cezanne exhibition and the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando a solo show by Bill Viola under the title Bill Viola [en diálogo].
