THE REAL MADRID: ¡Disfruta de Ella, y con Arte!
Paul Delvaux of the “Paul Delvaux: A Walk with Love and Death” Exhibition
(Artist: Willy Bosschem. Photo by Georges Jansoone JoJan – Self-photographed.
CC BY-SA3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
By Charlotte Gilliland
After a few weeks in Madrid you’ve probably visited the Prado, most likely pondered Guernica in the Reina Sofia for a while, and maybe you’ve even strolled through the Thyssen. So, what’s up next on your artistic agenda in Madrid?
Luckily, the month of March brings a wealth of opportunities to take a closer look at ongoing special exhibitions, or experience a refreshing mix of contemporary art in Madrid–just take your pick.
A Su Imagen: Arte, cultura y religión
Francisco Goya self-portrait 1783, PD via Wikimedia Commons
This unique exhibition seeks to demonstrate the role religion has played in the development of western culture, through showcasing close to 100 pieces from artists such as Rubens, Murillo, Goya, and Velázquez. The exhibit, aiming to display a “small synthesis” of the best Spanish paintings and sculptures, holds pieces from the Museo del Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Patrimonio Nacional, as well as pieces from private collections.
When: Now until April 12
Mondays-Thursdays 10 am – 8 pm
Fridays-Sundays: 10 am – 9 pm
Where: Fernan Gomez Centro Cultural de La Villa, Plaza de Colón, 4, 28001 Madrid
Price:
General: €7
Reduced: €5
Paul Delvaux: A Walk with Love and Death
Beginning on February 24th, this exhibition showcases work from Delvaux, the Belgian painter known for his association with surrealism and oneiric art and famous for his female nudes. The exhibit will feature over 50 works from the artist, borrowed from both private and public collections.
When: February 24 -June 7 2015
Mondays 12 noon-4 pm
Tuedays -Sundays 10 am-7 pm
Where: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Paseo del Prado 8, 28014 Madrid
Price: €10
Goya in Madrid
Until May 3rd, enjoy an in-depth look at Goya’s tapestry cartoons, get a glance at the artist’s starting foundations for his later works, and see the famous Goya in a whole new light.
When: Now until May 3rd
Where: Museo de Prado
Price: €14
Don’t Miss
Matadero poster, Fair use
If you’re ever in the mood for a silent-disco-type-of Saturday afternoon, look no further than a visit to the Matadero Madrid, a former slaughterhouse converted to an arts and cultural center in the Arganzuela district. The Matadero hosts a wealth of exhibitions relating to film, music, literature and visual art, and with its rich history, serves as a space for collaboration across mediums.
Experiencing all that the Matadero has to offer may take weeks, but El Poder de las Canciones (The Power of Songs) is one current exhibition that can’t be missed–an interactive exhibit tucked in the upstairs halls of the Casa del Lector. From afar, the silence radiating from the exhibit’s hallways may not sound like quite what one would expect from a showcase of sixty of the most influential songs during the 20th century, but after after a few seconds of listening–the world of twentieth century Pop arrives at your fingertips.
Curated by the director the of the music magazine Rockdelux, Santi Carrillo, the exhibit seeks to explore–as its title asserts–the significance of a song within its social, historical, and personal contexts. Works such as Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone,” or Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” which shook up either the music scene, the political scene, or both, are presented with lyrics, photos and of course–two pairs of headphones for you (and perhaps your significant other’s) listening pleasure.
Bob Dylan (Wikimedia Commons, PD)
With the art of listening becoming more and more individualized–less record stores, more earbuds–Carrillo’s exhibition can perhaps remind us of the importance of something we may have forgotten: the art of listening–with no distractions. And sans distractions, within this exhibition, perhaps we can begin to ask ourselves what a certain song may mean not only to our political and social climates, but also what a certain song may mean to us as individuals–to our personal lives, our relationships, our memories, and maybe, our futures.
When: From now to October 4, 2015
Where: Matadero Centro de Creación Contemporaneo (For schedules of the different shows, check out http://www.mataderomadrid.org/ficha/4096/el-poder-de-las-canciones.html )
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Charlotte Gilliland: A lover of coffee, podcasts, and the sounds of a bustling city, she’s eager to explore each corner and crevice of Madrid where she lives at present. Charlotte is a member of the Guidepost staff.
