ART FAIRS:ARCO Madrid 2016

ARCO was founded in 1982 by Juana de Aizpuru, an art gallery owner who wanted to introduce Spain to the international art circuit. She continues to actively participate although the exhibition is presently organized by Madrid’s Fair Institution, IFEMA. The Art Fair ARCO Madrid is turning into one of the most important art fairs in Europe.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: ARCO Madrid Archive

For the last 35 years ARCOmadrid has served as a nexus where art world encounters, the art market, and artistic discourse have all had a place. In total, 221 galleries from 27 countries participate: 167 form part of the General Programme, with 98 proposals dedicated to one or two artists, consolidating the Fair as a benchmark for the discovery and research of new artists. 18 Galleries participate in the Solo Projects, and 18 Galleries in the Opening Programme. 35 galleries in total, coming from different countries, have been invited to participate in the “Imagining other futures” section, which showcase projects by two artists per stand. Each stand pairs two artists that represent the past and the future of the gallery. The Fair also presents a new programme of invited private collectors and directors of museums and foundations who are expanding their collections, and aimed at facilitating the interaction between dealers and collectors during the course of the fair. Año 35. Madrid is a project conceived by Javier Hontoria which wishes to connect a good number of different institutions of Madrid leaded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. It is a new way to have a look to different spaces such as the Museum of Archaeology, the National Museum of Anthropology, the Cerralbo Museum, Tabacalera, the Museum of Romanticism, the Royal Mint, and the Casa Árabe, Museo Naval y embassy de Colombia, among others. Institutions that while ARCOmadrid happens, it seems they wonder: what would we do if we were a contemporary art museum?

Info: ARCO Madrid 2016, Feria DE Madrid, Halls 7 and 9, Av. Partenón, 5, Madrid, Duration: 24-28/2/16, Days & Hours: Professionals: 24-25/2 12:00-20:00 & 27/2 11:00-12:00, General Public 26-28/2 12:00-20:00, www.ifema.es