A responsible spoke to the Lusa agency at the end of the presentation of the 6th edition of the International Contemporary Art Fair ARCOlisboa, which this year will bring together 86 galleries from 23 countries, including 25 Portuguese, returning to Cordoaria Nacional, until 28 May.
“The strengths of this edition will be the ways in which it will reflect the richness, complexity and power of Portuguese art and its culture, in dialogue with the world, since this year we have expanded the representation of galleries from 23 countries, from Europe, United States and Latin America,” said the official.
The presentation of the event took place in the main hall of the Paços do Concelho of the Lisbon City Council, where Diogo Moura, councilor for Culture, Economy and Innovation, and Bruno Múrias, gallery owner and member of the ARCOlisboa organizing committee, were also present.
Regarding the increase in the number of galleries in this edition — the largest ever — Maribel López commented that it reflects “the interest and quality of the proposals” presented, especially for the Opening section, which increased to 23 galleries, leaving 55 in the general program and eight in the Africa in Focus section.
“We are very calm in terms of contents because we think they are very good, and the expectations of success are linked to the increased interest of so many galleries that wanted to participate”, highlighted the curator, adding that the fair found “a good size to work during some time, and to consolidate”.
Last year, the largest national fair dedicated to contemporary art brought together 65 galleries from 14 countries and received 11,000 visitors in the four days of opening to the public, according to figures released at the time by the organization.
This year, the participation of Portuguese galleries represents 30% of the fair, with 25 represented, and the international segment accounts for 70% — 61 galleries —, mainly from Europe, but also with an African presence, bringing together galleries from Angola, Morocco, Mozambique and South Africa.
Regarding the connection between Portugal and Spain in this sector, Maribel López said that “the connection between galleries and artists from Portugal and Spain has always existed, and ARCOlisboa tries to reinforce it from the beginning”.
The Africa in Focus program once again focuses attention on research into contemporary art from the African continent, with the participation of eight galleries selected by curator Paula Nascimento.
It will include galleries from Morocco (African Arty), South Africa (Afronova and Guns & Rain), Mozambique (Arte de Gema), as well as from France (193 Gallery), Germany (Artco) and Portugal (Insofar and Perve), with exhibitors individual items that will be scattered around the fair.
This content is complemented by other African galleries participating in the General Programme, such as L’atelier 21 Art Gallery, from Morocco, and the Angolan galleries Movart and This Is Not A White Cube.
Regarding whether this section should continue in the next editions of the fair, Maribel López replied: “Yes, it will remain because it is a line of research, and the curator (of this section) continues to make a selection of galleries that have been projected for the general program”.
Regarding the interest in conquering new audiences, the curator commented that contemporary art always needs new collectors: “We cannot think only of those who buy today, but also of the future. On the other hand, art can help society a lot to reflect , to ask questions. Artists constantly ask questions, which is essential”.
Asked by Lusa about the current market situation, López admitted that the contemporary art markets in Portugal and Spain “are not the main ones in the world”: “We know that, but the loyalty and commitment of Portuguese collectors to artists and gallerists is very strong”.
“Markets are always changing, but more and more people are visiting Lisbon and the commitment remains”, stressed the director, since 2019, of the ARCOlisboa and ARCOmadrid fairs, organized by IFEMA (Feiras de Madrid).
In what is the largest representation of galleries in the six years of activity – with an increase of 32% – the general program, the main axis of the fair, includes some that participate for the first time, such as Carlier | Gebauer, Document, Elisabeth & Klaus Thoman, Fernando Pradilla or The Goma, while others return after a break of one or more editions, such as Fernández-Braso, Baró, Georg Kargl, MPA-Moisés Pérez de Albéniz or Pelaires.
Portuguese artists Lehmann + Silva and No-No Gallery are among those joining this section after having participated in the Opening Lisboa section last year.
At the national level, there will also be, among others, Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art, Francisco Fino, Madragoa, Miguel Nabinho, Pedro Cera, Vera Cortês, Quadrado Azul, Presença, Uma Lulik, Galeria 111, and, among the foreigners, Alarcón Posso, Elvira González, Heinrich Ehrhardt, Helga de Alvear, Juana de Aizpuru or Leandro Navarro.
The growth of the general program will also be reflected in new content such as SOLO projects, pointing out that the work of nine international artists will be presented in depth, among them Mané Pacheco (Balcony gallery), Nacho created (José de la Mano), Eugenia Mussa ( Monitor), Sidival Fila (Baró)FOD (T20), Ana López (W-Galería) and Hong Zeiss (Zeller Van Almsick).
Through the Opening Lisbon section, whose selection was made by Chus Martínez and Luiza Teixeira de Freitas, with the collaboration of Diogo Pinto, the fair will have 21 galleries, such as Anca Poterasu, Britta Rettberg, Livie Gallery, Menoparkas, Portas Vilaseca, Ravnikar, making their debut on the programme, or Artbeat, Atm, Foco, Rodríguez Gallery and The Ryder Projects, who are returning.
For the fourth time, ARCOlisboa will award the Opening Lisboa Prize, whose jury, made up of professionals from the sector, will recognize the best exhibitor in the section with the concession of the exhibition space at the fair as a prize.
At ARCOlisboa, there will again be the ArtsLibris space, an area specialized in artist editions, photobooks and digital publications, with around thirty national and foreign exhibitors, in Torreão Nascente da Cordoaria, with free access to the public.
The ARCOlisboa Forum, curated by the Company for the Management of Equipment and Cultural Animation (EGEAC), directed by curators Marta Mestre and Ángel Calvo Ulloa, will once again be a space for research in contemporary art.
As in previous editions, ARCOlisboa will create a parallel cultural program in conjunction with institutions such as museums, openings and visits to exhibitions and private collections, among other events.
Also Read: ARCOlisboa returns with 84 galleries for the biggest edition ever
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