SPANISH ART TODAY
PRESS RELEASE
Although several prominent names in post-war Spanish art are known in Finland through international exhibitions, a comprehensive understanding of the recent development of Spanish art remains rather limited. However, various sources indicate that the past decade, in particular, has witnessed significant activity in Spanish art. Veteran masters continue to work with great vigor, while today’s younger artists are increasingly making their mark in the international art scene.
Spain’s historical circumstances and its prolonged period of isolation have contributed to the preservation of a certain “Spanish spirit” and artistic tradition. Its characteristic features—intensely charged, powerful atmospheres, the ability to distill the essence, and mastery of materials—are evident in the immediate post-war art and remain present in the current work of that generation of artists. The exhibition showcases the works of several key figures active since the late 1940s, including Antoni Tàpies and members of “El Grupo,” such as Antonio Saura, Martín Chirino, Manuel Millares, and Rafael Canogar.
The influence of Tàpies and other senior masters has, of course, been substantial for younger generations. However, the art of the 1970s experienced a significant crisis. In the context of a transformed social landscape, the reassessment of values in both tradition and the search for a new identity has been a key feature of visual art. The overall impression of contemporary Spanish art is diverse, marked both by originality and clear connections to international trends, influenced by expanded cultural interactions.
The exhibition focuses on two of Spain’s most important art regions. In Madrid and the surrounding areas, shaped by the traditions of the Castilian and Sevillian schools, a strong realist tradition prevails. Luis Gordillo’s role as a mediator and innovator has been particularly influential, leading to the emergence of an entire new generation of figurative artists since the 1970s. The second key center, Barcelona and the surrounding Catalonian region, has historically cultivated its own traditions as part of the Mediterranean cultural sphere. Today, it maintains strong connections with Central European art movements, and several young artists—such as Sevilla, Broto, and Barceló—are at the forefront of contemporary international expressionism.
As Francisco Calvo Serraler notes in the foreword to the exhibition catalog:
“Spain is undergoing transformation. Whatever direction it may take at this juncture, there is no doubt that these young artists are its heralds. They proclaim an open Spain.”
Exhibition Schedule:
Pori Art Museum: February 10 – March 24, 1985
Alvar Aalto Museum: April 5 – May 12, 1985
Sinebrychoff Art Museum: May 24 – August 4, 1985
Publication:
ISBN 951-9355-09-X Espanjan taide tänään
Pori Art Musem 10.2.-24.3.1985
Editing and lay-out: Porin taidemuseo/Hilkka Kuusijärvi
Documents: Maria Angeles Gutiérrez Diaz – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madrid, Irene Moratilla – Ministry of Culture, Madrid
Photos: Rafael Lobato, Catalá Roca, Jesse Férnandez, Alberola
Translations: Maikki Anttila, Kimmo Pasanen
Cover: Manolo Valdes: Musta Nauha, 1984
Printing: Satakunnan Kirjateollisuus Oy, Pori 1985
Pori Art Museum Publications 5
Translated with ChatGPT