BLOG - Archivo JULIO de 2009

Some notes on the rearrangement of the Collections of the MNCARS

A museum’s collection is its central axis, and it is the significance of its acquisitions that defines whether or not it is relevant. It is not the only thing that matters, however, particularly when the institution in question is not only a museum, but also an art centre. This is the case of the MNCARS, an institution which is also the main contemporary art museum in Spain, and which therefore must fulfil a leading role in revitalising the artistic climate.

Few of this institution’s directors have received as much support from the art world as Manuel Borja-Villel, mainly as a result of his appointment following a public competition, whose results –we must say– surprised no one, as he was the candidate with the most points in favour right from the start. This was thanks to his résumé as director, first, of the Fundación Tàpies and, second, of the MACBA; while the first was not a particularly complex institution, the second, when he arrived, was not exactly a piece of cake, and he demonstrated his judiciousness and resilience, managing to straighten out the Barcelona museum and place it on the international art map. Both of these qualities were essential if he wanted to save the MNCARS from the lethargy in which it had been submerged for almost fifteen years. All of the above, although known by all, is relevant as background to the great curiosity and sense of expectation regarding Borja-Villel’s position with respect to this interpretation of the collection of the MNCARS, as well as to see the acquisitions he has made since he was first appointed as director of the institution, just over a year and a half ago.

Ángeles Albert de León has been appointed general director of Fine Arts and Cultural Goods

Just 48 hours after the resignation of José Jiménez, the Cabinet approved the appointment of Ángeles Albert de León (Madrid, 1962), as proposed by the Minister for Culture, González-Sinde. Albert is the first woman to take on this role. Up to now she has been working for the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), part of the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry, where she was deputy assistant general director for Cultural Cooperation and Foreign Cultural Promotion, and, more recently, head of the Foreign Culture Centres Network Unit. She has also directed the Centro Cultural de España in Mexico. Albert has a degree in Geography and History, specialising in Prehistory and Archaeology, and belongs to the team of museum curators of the Ministry for Culture.
After having a director of Fine Arts and Cultural Goods who came from the field of contemporary art, an exceptional occurrence in the history of this post, it was almost impossible to appoint someone with the same background. We must trust that her interests go beyond historical heritage and that she will deal with the current issues in the cultural world. We wish her the best of luck.
 

Antoni Muntadas: “Velázquez” Visual Arts Prize

All of us at ARTECONTEXTO would like to congratulate Antoni Muntadas, who yesterday received the “Velázquez” Visual Arts prize, awarded by the Ministry of Culture.
Muntadas is, without a doubt, the living Spanish artist who is best known abroad, and his work is key to the interpretation of our time from a perspective centred on revealing the mechanisms which rule the media, the control exerted over individuals in the developed world, and the way fear is instilled in societies ruled by democracies which we define as solid.