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is this Spain? surge básicamente como una necesidad de reflexionar sobre la construcción de la identidad española y los tópicos que en tantas ocasiones la acompañan. Estimulados por la importancia de expresar la diversidad de un país que quiere comunicar en el exterior su riqueza cultural y patrimonial, este proyecto invita al espectador a realizar una lectura diferente a través de la reflexión estética, social y política de las propuestas artísticas que aquí se presentan.
is this Spain? como plataforma de obras de artistas contemporaneos, reflexiona y cuestiona sobre la identidad española intentando alejarse de lecturas estereotipadas. Como plataforma pretende mostrar los múltiples vértices de una realidad que nos habla de estructuras sociales complejas y ricas, de realidad en continuo cambio, y de sociedad permeable a múltiples culturas.
Desde este archivo los artistas son:
- Espejo, mostrando desde la inquietud creadora subjetiva una realidad digna de reflexión;
- Investigadores, por sacar a la luz las realidades aún por retratar y nombrar;
- Accionadores, porque muchas de las prácticas artísticas son pro-positivas en un contexto determinado respondiendo a demandas concretas de una comunidad;
- Mediadores, construyendo junto a esa comunidad los instrumentos para problematizar y generar una acción determinada.
El archivo es un material artístico que puede sernos útil para interrogarnos, reflexionar y construir desde la diversidad de propuestas una imagen de España acorde con toda la complejidad que encierra en sí misma. A partir de este archivo se abordan temas y realidades desde el rigor de la investigación artística que aún están sin tratar por la opinión pública, que en estos momentos se encuentra secuestrada y condicionada por las urgencias económicas, dejando de lado los aspectos de calado del país.
El diálogo abierto entre los diferentes contextos donde se ha presentado, ha generado diversas vías de colaboración en investigación conjunta.
Por ello queremos seguir enriqueciendo con diversas miradas la plataforma de artistas is this Spain?, con aportaciones de profesionales de las artes que consideramos puedan incorporar diferentes aspectos y discursos al proyecto. De esta manera invitamos a comisarios y profesionales de las artes, a proponer obras que consideren apropiadas para la plataforma.
Este archivo permanece abierto para ser investigado, reinterpretado y usado para pensar.
[ARCHIVE-FILE]
The file is an artistic material that can be useful to question ourselves, to reflect and construct an image of Spain in line with all the complexity that encloses in itself since the diversity of proposals. From this file issues and realities are addressed from the rigor of artistic research that are still untreated by public opinion, which at the moment is abducted and conditioned by economic emergencies, leaving aside the aspects of draught of the country.
Do we want to enrich the platform of artists is this Spain with different looks?, with input from professionals in the arts which we consider can incorporate different aspects and speeches to the project. Thus invite curators and arts professionals, to propose two artworks deemed appropriate for the platform is this Spain?. Our intention is to take responsibility with the same purpose of the project and the diversity of views on a complex issue as the Spanish identity.
Actual collaborators:
1erEscalon [Murcia] Curatorial team withr: Isabel Durante, Ana G. Alarcon and Miguel Angel
Hernández. http://www.1erescalon.com
Alba Braza [Valencia] Independent curator
COMMISION [Madrid] Curatorial team with: Jose Luis Corazón Ardura, Ana Rico-Bornay, Alexis
Callado Estefania, Pelayo Varela and Avelino Sala
commissioncura.wordpress.com
Nerea Ubieto [Zaragoza, 1984] Independent curator.
Maria Salazar [Logroño, 1983] Cultural Producer.
@maria_salazar_
Saioa Olmo [Bilbao] Artist and researcher.
is this Spain? began in 2009 with a first edition theme [stereotypes] a reflection on the current Spanish identity built on a stereotypical image of gypsy Spain.
Through artists working with critical discourses developed from a political point of view, ironic and burlesque, turns off the bias assigned to Spain and society.
Amending the reductionist view that is homogeneous in contemporary Spanish, showing the history of a society enjoying a recent cultural and social development well recognized.
The second edition of is this Spain? addresses the social reality of a utopian land called [Iberia]. Spain and Portugal are two countries that have always been back to themselves and to Europe, which have been great imperial powers during their golden ages, who have long lived under dictatorships in the twentieth century, losing the train of progress and modernity, as stated by the historian and Hispanist Ian Gibson. Indeed, it was not until the 80s of the past century, when both countries were integrated into Europe.
In 2010, artists living in Portugal were selected by a public call made in that country, and invited to reflect on this theme in collaboration with Spanish art collectives. Artists from Portugal: Frederico Diz, Marta Bernardes, Dalila
Gonçalves, Vasco Costa. In this third phase of the project, there will be a curated program for each art center, with a selection of artists and groups involved in previous editions. Didactic activities in laboratory and workshop format will be organized with the participation of artists and local context cultural agents.
In 2011, The Cervantes Institute in Milano hosted [Scusi] … Is this Spain?, from February 2 to March 10. It consisted in a video art program with works from some of the previous participant artists that relate a critical and ironic view of the current situation in Spain. Artists: Maria Cañas, Left Hand Rotation, Greta Alfaro, Democracia, Carlos Llavata, Alicia Framis, Momu & No Es. It also showed the maps of UHF magazine, the Black Box project by CASITA and the Casas Tristes project by Derivart Collective. The opening day, a workshop was held on [Versus], a set of creation and reflection on the construction of the stereotype of other cultures. Students and teachers at the school and the Milanese public are invited to participate in the activity.
May begins with the two remaining openings of the third phase of Is this Spain? by its trip through Italy, in collaboration with the Cervantes Institute. On 3 May, the opening at the Napoli centre counts on with the works of Santiago Sierra, Greta Alfaro, Democracia, Maria Cañas, Carlos Llavata, Derivart, UHF and C.A.S.I.T.A. The activity program in Naples will be a workshop with the group
CASITA, held at the Academy of Fine Arts of the city.
From May 6th to June 9th, the exhibition will set out in the hall of the Cervantes Institute in Rome, located in Piazza Navona, with the works of Maria Cañas, Left Hand Rotation, Busto Bocanegra, Derivart, Alicia Framis, Greta Alfaro, Andrés Senra, Democracy, the group UHF Momu & No Es and C.A.S.I.T.A. The exhibition will be enshrined in the official program of the 4th edition of the contemporary art fair in Rome (The Road to Contemporary Art) held from 5th to 8th of May 2011. The activity program for the See of Rome is [Dialogue] … Rome-Madrid.
Output is the dialogue to 3 artists Is this Spain? with 3 Italian artists, through an exchange of letters monitored by the Italian independent curator Sissa Verde.
In the spring of 2011 the Project travelled to several centers of the Cervantes Institute in Italy (Milan, Rome and Napoles). In September the project will be presented in Brazil under the heading [E aí!] … is this Spain?
Chronology of activities:
-Brasilia. Cervantes Institute Cultural Centre. Collective exhibition from August 31 to September 24. Works by Maria Cañas, Santiago Sierra, Derivart, Alicia Framis, Greta Alfaro, Andrés Senra, Democracia, UHF Collective Momu & No Es and C.A.S.IT.A.
-São Paulo. Matilha Cultura. Left Hand Rotation workshop on 6 and 7 September. Activity organized in collaboration with Matilha Cultural Association, as part of the event Setembro Verde 2011, a monthly series of activities which will address the various socio-environmental conflicts in Brazil.
-Brasilia. University of Brasilia. Left Hand Rotation workshop on 12, 13 and 14 September. Activity carried out in collaboration with UnB Universidade da Brasilia. Published the results of the stay in Brazil during the month of September of the collective Left Hand Rotation. A documentary work about the gentrification process that suffers at the moment the Bairro da Luz in the heart of São Paulo, branded under the label “cracolandia” by the government, which makes a real state concession to private property for renovation. Profile complete with photos and video: http://www.lefthandrotation.com/museodesplazados/ficha_luz.htm
Left Hand Rotation is an artistic collective that works on different political and social issues. Gentrificação: colonização urbana e instrumentalização da cultura is their proposal to [E aí!] … is this Spain? focused in the analysis of the different responses that the cultural sector can offer to the process of “gentrification” and change that are occurring in the large contemporary cities. After passing through Brazil, the project returns and focuses on Europe. The first stop will be the headquarters of the Cervantes Institute in Dublin (May 10 to June 30). The heading for this occasion will be [Excuse me]… is this Spain? and it resumes the current political and economic issues that more concerned every day with the works of Maria Cañas, Derivart, Alicia Framis, Greta Alfaro, Collective UHF, Left Hand Rotation, Momu & No Es and C.A.S.I.T.A.
is this Spain? 