Feb 26

Feb 26 ARCO 2020

Art, Creative People, Culture, Photography

Some highlights from this year’s art fair in Madrid, Arco 2020.

I am not claiming to be some critic from the art world by any means. I truly appreciate art and have been working in photography and with visual media for most of my career, therefore, all my comments are based completely on my own personal opinions and taste.

I’d say the quality of the work was very good, but the effect of coronavirus could be felt as it was definitely not as busy as last year, and several gallerists commented on the somber mood. Themes focused on depression, isolation, despair, and were not as political in general.. Last year I discovered artists that for me were new, like Rafa Macarron at Marta cervera gallery who’s work I love, this year photography as a medium took center stage.

My favourite art work -

In love with the work presented at Michel Rein gallery by artist Enrique Ramirez. Interview coming soon.

Love the work by Photographer Penny Franck Presented by Arcade Gallery.

Him, Her, Them 2015, C PrintCourtesy @ThisisArcade — *Him, Her, Them 2015, C Print*
Courtesy @ThisisArcade

Wonderful work by Artist Natalie Czech Presented by Kadel Willborn Gallery

The work of Swiss Artist Yves Scherer at Galleria Piu.

Yves who lives and works in New York City, is a visual artist whose work usually deals with gender issues, and celebrities scrutinizing, criticizing and yet still embracing the blurred line between reality and pop culture fantasy. He is inspired by the internet.

Photographer Yazan Zubi presented by G Y P S U M .

The photographer explores his relationship to decorative objects inherited through generations of home-keeping with a deep and presumptuous colonial influence on aesthetics. Zubi explores his cultural background in a middle-class home in both Jordan and Morocco and how the common objects one finds in that meeting of high and low culture affects his own identity. The series should really be purchased together as a whole.

It was really so nice to see photography as a medium popular at the art fair this year. Almost All Spanish galleries presented photographers and I spoke to several saying that the medium is finally being accepted in the art world as a serious form for investment and collecting ranging from 5k to 18k Euros.

The Most Controversial -

'Franco no fue tan malo como dicen' by artist Riiko Sakkinen, exhibited at Forsblom Gallery. Crowds gathered around this piece.

We saw a few sketchy characters watching a Film Lexicon of Sexual Practices, @ galería Barbara Weiss ( 140,000 Euros). hmmm…

and as always, I absolutely Love the Presentation of Sabrina Amrani Gallery, who used the space so perfectly to showcase their wonderful and eclectic group of artists; Manal Al Dowayan, Dabogerto Rodriguez and Timothy Hyunsoo Lee.