Coinciding with the main events of contemporary art that take place during this week, (URVANITY Art, ARCO, Modern Art Hall and Madrid Design Festival among others) Madrid Capital de Moda will turn the streets of the city into a contemporary outdoor art gallery in order to energize and promote the attractiveness of some of the most important commercial areas of the city.
Fuencarral street, the squares of Callao and Alonso Martínez, Augusto Figueroa street, Ortega y Gasset street, Serrano street and several walls of the Centro district (Puerta Cerrada, or Santa Isabel) are the spots where you can find sculptures, paintings or photographs of consolidated artists and professionals.
This initiative is a result of public-private collaboration and it has been possible thanks to the involvement of different actors such as the URVANITY Art and ARCO contemporary art fairs, DISTRITO 41, Madrid Luxury District merchants’ associations, or the CONDÉ NAST publishing group.
From the end of February to the beginning of March, Madrid Capital de Moda takes art to the street to bring it closer to the public and to all visitors who walk through the capital.
The main objective has been to share with everyone the most innovative works of contemporary art by bringing it closer to the general public so people can see it while enjoying and walking through some of the main commercial areas of Madrid.
One of the examples that has had better reception is URVANTIY Art.
The first edition of this urban festival presented the works of emerging artists placing them in very busy spots of the Spanish capital, like the squares of Callao or Alonso Martínez and streets like Fuencarral or Augusto Figueroa; with the COAM (Official College of Architects of Madrid) as the main headquarters.
The work of the participating sculptors aims to provoke an emotional reaction in the spectator, as it happens with case of the Cádiz-born Juan Miguel Quiñones, who travels back to his childhood with the 2.5 meters high marble sculpture: Dracula, based on the famous ice cream.
We can also find the works of Sabek, Moneyless and 1010, who invite us to cross the streets of downtown discovering art towards the greatest commercial and services offer of the city.
This action takes place within the framework of the Madrid Capital de Moda project, whose main objective is to promote commercial activation and putting value on the most important commercial areas of our city thanks to the support of the City Council and the footwear company Coolway.
Also within the framework of Madrid Capital de Moda, and again in collaboration with URVANITY ART, this week international artists such as Marat Morik, (RuArts F), Poni (Spa Gallery), Pro176 (Swinton Galler) and Artez (Galo) Art Gallery), will be part of the event by showing their work on the walls of Puerta Cerrada, Santa Isabel, Amaniel or Tribulete.
On the other hand, ARCOmadrid celebrates a new edition. From February 27 to March 3, more than 203 galleries from 31 countries will present their projects at IFEMA. This iconic fair (with 38 years of history) continues to be one of the most prominent events in the cultural agenda of Madrid. On this occasion, the organizers have wanted to consolidate their Latin American projection, counting Peru as the guest of honor.
ARCOmadrid also wanted to have a representation in the streets of Madrid by installing a work by the sculptor Juan Garaizabal. Madrid Luxury District and Madrid Capital de Moda, with the collaboration of the Madrid City Council have created the exhibition “Because there is not planet B”. This interactive sculpture is made with reused materials to raise awareness about the importance of recycling plastics in the future of our planet.
In addition to the exhibition itself, in the windows of the associated stores like Chanel, the Villa Magna Hotel or Tiffany, ten original lithographs by the same author will be exhibited for the enjoyment of citizens and visitors.
Photography also has its space thanks to the outdoor exhibition organized between Condé Nast and the Madrid City Council: “Travel to the flavors of the world, stay in the markets of Madrid”. Visitors who come to Serrano street can enjoy a delicious journey around the world without leaving the capital thanks to the delicious gastronomic covers of the most prestigious travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler.
Flecha is also one of the musts of the season. This exhibition of contemporary art can be enjoyed at the Arturo Soria Shopping Center until March 10. This year, consolidated artists such as Antonio López and Ouka Lele gather together with young and emerging figures such as Miranda Makaroff or MiesterPiro.
Vanguards also have some room thanks to the SAM (Modern Art Salon). International art names such as Dalí and Miró are part of this exhibition that has the support of the District 41 merchants’ association and that is held at Velázquez nº 12. This proposal will undoubtedly make visitors discover modern art to the maximum.
Many young creators are also present in the cultural panorama of the season thanks to Producto Fresco; an exhibition that takes place until March 20 in DIMAD and that presents 60 works by artists that seek to revolutionize the new trends of contemporary design.
