Human Bodies

Discover the hidden secrets of the human body at a fascinating new exhibition where visitors can see as never before ten human bodies and 100 human organs on display, which have all been preserved by the means of plastination. The exhibition promises to be a unique masterclass about the various systems of the human body and what lies beneath our skin. All visits come with a headset so you can enjoy commentary in the language of your choice. The exhibition runs until 23rd October at the Casa de Campo Pabilión XII (Metro L6 Alto de Extremadura or Lago L10). Tickets cost 10€. 

Teotihuacan- The City of Gods

A fascinating new exhibtion dedicated to the treasures of Teotichuacan, the most important city during Aztec times, has just opened at the Caixa Forum Madrid. It features around 400 artifacts selected from some of Mexico's best museums which were found at the ancient site located on the edge of modern day Mexico City. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to learn how the city's ancient inhabitants lived, their religion and culture, and how they organised their society during the city's 800 year history. Best of all the exhibition is free. You can catch the exhibition at the Caixa Forum (Paseo del Prado 36- look for the wall of plants) until 13th November).

A great month for photography lovers!

If you're interested in photography you're in for a real treat this month as there are two very important photography events happening in the city. First the World Press Photography Exhibition will be in town from 2nd-26th June at the Junta de Moncloa as part of its world tour. The exhibiton features the award winning photographs from the annunual international photojournalism competition organised by the non-profit organisation World Press Photo. The other event is PhotoEspaña, an annual celebration of photography held across different galleries and exhibition spaces across Madrid, with around 70 different exhibitions in total. It's in its 14th year and this years theme is faces. The event runs between 1st June-24th July. See here for more info about the exhibitions and participating spaces.

Summer exhibitions at the Reina Sofia Museum

Temporary exhibitions at the Reina Sofia Museum this summer. To find out more about an exhibition, click the links. Entry to the temporay exhibitions costs 3€ and with the ticket, you can visit as many as you want.

James Castle. Show and Store.

From: May 18 - September 5, 2011
At: Sabatini Building (main building), floor 3

Yayoi Kusama (no info found)

From: May 11 - September 12, 2011
At: Sabatini Building (main building), floor 1

Leon Golub

From: May 6 - September 12, 2011
At: Palacio de Velázquez (in Retiro Park)

A Hard, Merciless Light.
The Worker-Photography Movement, 1926-1939

From: April 6 - August 22  

At: Sabatini Building (main building), Floor 3

Roberto Jacoby, Desire rises from Collapse

From: February 25 - May 30
At: Sabatini Building, Espacio Uno (main building), Sala Bóvedas and Sala de Protocolo

Efrén Álvarez. Económicos

From: February 2 - May 30
At: Nouvel Building (main building), Mezzanine 2

MadridFoto International Contemporary Photography Exhibition

Taking place between 5-8 May, MadridFoto is one of the biggest international exhibitions of contemporary photography at the Feria de Madrid (IFEMA). Representatives from around 50 galleries, some as far away as Los Angeles and New York, will be be there displaying some astonishing photographic creations. The fair will be open to the public Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th, the first two days being reserved for professsionals only. Tickets cost 12€, a little pricey, but there is always a lot to see and the quality is very high.

Cultural activities for Semana Santa

The Madrid region has an great programme of cultural events taking place over Easter week. Here are a few picks:

The Centro de Exposiciones Arte Canal (Paseo de la Castellana, 214), has an exposion dedicated to the period of Alexander the Great with over 330 artefacts from 40 different museums across Europe on display. Visitors can also enjoy a 3D video projection.  Runs until 3rd May. Metro Plaza de Castilla (L1, L9, L10). Free admission.

The Comunidad de Madrid gallery at Calle Alcalá 31, is showing works by the British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare; his first exhbition in Spain. The collection includes 22 of his works in various media such as collage, sculpture and video. Runs until 24th April. Metro Sevilla (L2) or Sol (L1, L2, L3). Free admission.

It's normally closed, but the Lope de Vega birthhouse (la Casa Museo Lope de Vega) at Calle Cervantes 11, will open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday or Easter week, from 10:00 until 15:00 horas (you need to reserve either by calling 91 429 92 16 or emailing casamuseolopedevega@madrid.org).

  

Winston Churchill: Walking With Destiny is a remarkable exhibition looking at the life and work of the British prime minister, and in particular his relationship and interest in Spain. It features photographs, documents and personal objects; many on show on continental Europe for the first time. Not to be missed to get an insight into perhaps the most influential figure of the 20th century, and one of the greatest shapers of history. Runs until 5th June at the Sala El Águila, Calle Ramirez de Prado 3, metro Delicias (L3).

New exhibtion plays hommage to Latin American independance

Opening 14th April at the Biblioteca Nacional de España (Spain's national library), is an exhibition which takes a look at the evolution of Latin American countries since they gained independance from Spain two hundred years ago, up to the present day . There will be a wide variety of artefacts and documents on display including artworks, photographs, books, maps and prints. This is a must for anyone interested in the Spanish speaking world and Latin America! In Spanish the title of the exhibition is América Latina: 200 años de historia (Latin America: 200 Years of History). The exhibtion will run until 10th July and admission is free. Getting there: metro Banco de España (L2) or Colón (L4).

Have you ever wondered what's inside the Palacio de Cibeles?

For those of you who have ever wondered what it's like inside, the Palacio de Cibeles (that's the very ornate white building by the Cibeles fountain), it will opening its doors to the public until 27th July. Visitors will have access to 8 floors of cultural space, totalling some 45,000 square metres, as well being able to climb up to the roof terrace to enjoy panoramic views of the city. The building, previously used for telecommunications, has just undergone major refurbishment lasting six years and costing 125 million euros, and in September a cafeteria and restaurant will open on the upper floors.

The building is open from Tuesday to Sunday 10am-8pm until 27th July. Entry is free. It's located on the Cibeles roundabout where Paseo del Prado and Calle Alcalá meet (metro: Banco de España L2).

Walking with Destiny: Winston Churchill and Spain (1874-1965)

A remarkable exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Winston Churchill, and in particular his relationship and interest in Spain opens on Saturday 26th March. It will feature photographs, documents and personal objects; many on show on continental Europe for the first time. Not to be missed to get an insight into perhaps the most influential figure of the 20th century, and one of the greatest shapers of history. 

The exhibtion will run until 5th June at the Sala El Águila, Calle Ramirez de Prado 3 near metro Delicias (L3). In Spanish the exhibition´s title is Caminando con el destino. Winston Churchill y España:1874 – 1965.

What's on at the Thyssen Museum:

Here is the spring programme of temporary exhibitions on at the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum:

Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904)  Some of the French sculpture's best works will be on display. Co-organised by the Musée d'Orsay Paris and the J.Paul Getty Museum. (Until 22nd May)

Heroines This exhibition looks at the role of women in active roles depicted in Western art from the renaissance period up to the present day. The exhibition features works from Rubens, Goya and Caravaggio. (From 8th March- 5th June)


Entrance: 7€

Address: Paseo del Prado 8 (Metro: Sevilla, Banco de España or Atocha)

More details about the exhibitions

Chardin (1699-1779) at the Prado Museum

18th century French painter Chardin is considered one of the masters of still life painting, and 57 of his best loved works will be on display at a temporary exhibition at the Prado Museum from 1st March. This is the first ever exhibition dedicated to the artist in Spain, with the pieces loaned from prestigious art collections such as the Louvre and the National Gallery London. Works on show include The Ray, The Young School Teacher, and Two Rabbits. Entrance to the exhibition costs 10€ or 5€ at reduced rate. Runs until 29th May. For the exhibition website, click here.

Spring Exhibitions 2011 at the Reina Sofía

The Reina Sofía Museum has an exciting programme of  temporary exhibitions for this spring and we decided to include their details on here. They are as follows:

Asier Mendizabal Until May 2
Efrén Álvarez. Económicos Until May 30
Dorit Margreiter: Description Until April 25
Atlas. How to carry the world on one’s back? Until March 28, 2011
Jessica Stockholder. Peer Out to See Until May 2, 2011 (Palacio de Cristal, Retiro Park)

Miroslaw Balka. ctrl Until April 25, 2011 (Abadía de Santo Domingo de Silos (Burgos) and Sala de Bóvedas, Museo Reina Sofía)
Jean-Luc Mylayne Until March 27, 2011 (Palacio de Velázquez, Retiro Park)

Coming soon:

Harsh light, without compassion. The Worker-Photography Movement, 1926-1939

Runs April 6 - August 22
Entrance to the exhibitions costs 3€ and covers all temporary exhibits. For more information about the Reina Sofía, here's the museum website

 

Exhibitions at The Prado Museum for 2011

There Prado Museum has just announced its exhibitions for the coming year. They are as follows:

1st March- 29th May Chardin (1699-1779)
5th April- 31st July The Young Ribera
5th May- 31st July New Acquisitions 1996-2010
8th November- 26th March 2012 Treaures from the Hermitage


Also some of The Prado's collection will be on display at The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg this spring as part of an exchange of artworks.


You can find out more about the exhibitions on The Prado Museum's website. Of course as these exhibitions approach, we'll include more information about them on here.

Last chance to see Passion for Renoir at The Prado

This week the Passion for Renoir exhibition at The Prado Museum will be coming to an end. Visitors will have the rare opportunity to see some of his most famous works on show in the Spanish capital, which normally can only been seen at the Clark Institute in Massachusetts. The exhibition has proved so popular that the museum decided to extend its running period.

The exhibtion closes on Sunday 13th February.

Where: The Museo del Prado, Paseo del Prado. Metro Atocha (L1) or Banco de España (L2).

Click here to go to the exhibition website.

El Esplendor del Románico (Romanesque Splendor)

El Esplendor Románico, starting at the Fundación Mapfre on 10th February, is a new exhibtion dedicated to romanesque art. The objects on display come from the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona, which perhaps has some of the best preserved examples of romanesque art in its collection. The 59 artefacts on show include murals, sculpture and liturgical objects made from materials including wood, stone and enamel. Many consider this to be one of the finest exhibtions of romanesque art in many years, due to the historical significance of the exhibits.

The exhibtion runs until 15th May at the Fundación Mapfre, Paseo de Recoletos (about a ten minute walk up from the Prado Museum). Metro: Colón (L4) or Banco de España (L2). Entrance is free, and audioguides for the exhibtion are available in English.  Link to the exhibition website

ARCOmadrid International Contemporary Art Fair 16th-20th February

Taking place between 16th-20th February is the ARCOmadrid Internation Comtemporary Art Fair, during which Madrid will become the world capital for contemporary art. This event, now in its 30th year, is highly estimed in the contemporary art circuit and it is one of the biggest events of its kind. This edition should see more than 300,000 visitors pass through its doors, and 145 exhibitors from various art galleries and institutions across the globe will be there. Also there will be a series of talks each evening given by experts from the international contemporary art scene for both the general public and professionals.

The fair takes place at the Fería de Madrid (IFEMA), metro Campo de las Naciones (L8). Tickets cost 32€ or 66€ with the full entrance pack. You can visit the ARCOmadrid website and buy tickets here.

Adam Fuss at the Fundación Mapfre

Beautiful. That is one word to describe the photographs by London born Adam Fuss which are currently on display at the Fundación Mapfre. Fuss is not like any other photographer; in fact he does not even use a normal camera to take his photographs, prefering to use old style techniques with chemicals as used by Fox Talbot and Daguerre. His images are truely fascinating and it's certainly a photography exhibition not like any other. Here is a video about the exhibition, which includes an interview with Fuss in English:

The exhibtion is on until 17th April at the Fundación Mapfre, Paseo de Recoletos (about a ten minute walk up from the Prado Museum). Metro: Colón (L4) or Banco de España (L2). Free entry. Audioguides for the exhibtion are available in English.  Here's a link to the exhibition, where you can see a selection of his images

Hans Peter Feldman- An Art Exhibtion

Hans Peter Feldman is a conceptual artist, who after growing up in postwar Germany where images were scarce, became fascinated with collecting photographs, videos and trival art with the idea of recontextualising them. One of his signature pieces is his own version of Michelangelo's David, who he has given a pop art makeover. Feldman has exhibited all over Europe, including Barcelona, Venice, Paris and Germany. He might not be to everyone's taste, but we think An Art Exposition is a must for fans of contemporary art and those who like their art brash and colourful.

We've also found this video of the exhibition:

The exhibition is on at the Reina Sofía until 28^th February. Entry 3€.
Exhibition website

Francis Bacon.Detritus at the Ivory Press

 Following on from the highly successful exhibition two years ago at the Prado Museum, Francis Bacon makes a return to Madrid, a city he visited many times and his place of death. This exhibition was put together by Elena Ochoa Foster, wife of architect Norman Foster, and has on display several volumes of facsimilies of magazines, newspaper cuttings, letters and notes which were found in suitcases at his home.
Entry to the exhibtion is free and runs until February 6th.

The Ivory Press, C/ Comandante Zorita 46, Madrid (near metro Santiago Bernabeu)
Website

Dalí, Lorca y la residencia de estudiantes (Dalí, Lorca and the Student House)

This exhibition has been on a while now, but fans of Spanish culture will be very interested to see this. Ittells the story how the world's most famous surrealist artist met Lorca, perhaps Spain's greatest writer of the 20^th century whilst they were living at a university residence together in Madrid. For many years the pair had a very strong friendship until Dalí left for Paris and Lorca travelled to New York. Tragically, Lorca would later be shot by a fascist millitia. Until 6^th February 2011. Free entry.

Address: CaixaForum, Paseo del Prado 38 (metro Atocha)

Website