2023-12-14 19:15:48
Enrique Lacalle He defines himself as a man of action. When he has an idea he does not let it wither in the melancholy of what he could have been: he seeks the resources and complicities to make it a reality. In 2020, the current president of the Equestrian Circle promoted ‘By Invitation’ with the intention of converting the modernist halls of the Pérez Samanillo palace into a ‘showroom’ of modern and contemporary art.
Four years later ‘By Invitation’ is a benchmark on Barcelona’s cultural agenda with the participation of a thousand artists: «Year after year, the Círculo Ecuestre has managed to put together an extensive lineup by filling its entire space with works by great artists and galleries. . This fair responds to Barcelona’s cultural demand for this type of meeting, in a unique and unrepeatable location,” Lacalle emphasizes.
The galleries Alcolea, Baró, Taché, Carlos Teixidó, David Cervelló, Dolors Junyent, Fernando Pinós, Marc Calzada, Marc Domènech, Max estrella, Enciclopedia Art, Petritxol, Center d’Art Contemporàni, Senda, LAB36 and Piramidón are selling creations of their artists until the next Sunday, December 17.
Lacalle accompanies us through an exhibition space where modernist furniture harmonizes with contemporary aesthetics. Carles Taché He arranges the paintings by Arroyo, Saura, and Hernández Pijuán on chairs around a table: “It’s as if it were a Christmas dinner,” he points out. In the Fernando Pinós or Dolors Junyent galleries, the art of the first half of the 20th century predominates: Miró, Casas, Nonell… In the Baró, the works of José María Sicilia draw attention, inspired by the goals of Messi or Maradona and the original treatment of ancient fabrics by the monk Sidival Fila.
Among the novelties of this fourth edition, the awarding of the ‘By Invitation’ medal to businessman and patron Antoni Vila-Casas posthumously and the incorporation of digital art to the exhibition space. In the ‘Art Digital by OFF’ section, directed by Pep Salazar, the creations of Sixnfive, Birgit Palma, Refik Anadol, Baugasm, Vasava, PJ Richardson, Mireia Ruiz and Diatomic are displayed on high-resolution screens provided by Bang & Olufsen: “Exhibiting digital art with the same respect as works of modern and contemporary art positions this art fair at the top of the cultural panorama and consolidates it as an enclave attentive to the latest artistic trends,” observes Lacalle.
In parallel to the exhibition and acquisition of works, meetings on the artistic sector are held, such as the colloquium on the Tàpies Year by the director of its Foundation, Inma Prieto, the artist Daniel Andújar and the gallery owner Carlos Durán. A panel on committed art with Javier Lumbreras, Nimfa Bisbe, Víctor Hormigos and Mercedes Basso. Teresa Ybarra and Lucía Tro’s debate on art as an alternative to investment; or the conversation, on Friday, of the cultural journalist Sergio Vila-Sanjuán with Iris Brower, director of the Moco Museum about new artistic trends.
Lacalle is not satisfied with the acceptance levels of ‘By Invitation’: Within a year, the participation of Madrid gallery owners has already closed: «This fair will get better and better. Barcelona and Madrid must cooperate culturally. Until now, the strength of the capital, in addition to having the best museums in Spain, has had a municipal and regional government that makes things easier.
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